An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c24.s1.5

v1.c24.s1.5

*19.1.5 Spearheads.* It is difficult to distinguish between certain types of spear- and lance-heads and the larger knives and daggers. The longest one, from SD area of Mohenjo-daro, measures about 39 cm in length, about 13 cm in breadth and 4 mm in thickness: it has two small holes at the bottom of the blade to secure it in a split wooden shaft (Mackay, 1938, pl. CXX, 14). Another, about 25 cm long, 36 cm wide and 33 mm thick, is without tie-holes (Mackay, 1938, pls. CXXI, 33, CXII, 7, CXVII, 8, 11, CXX, 7, 9). A spearhead has become very short due to repeated sharpening and looks like a knife blade or lance (Mackay, 1938, pl. CXVII, 9). Another spearhead (Mackay, 1938, pl. CXVII, 11) has a thin and well-preserved blade and an edged tang-end to facilitate its insertion into a wooden shaft. The holes at the lower base of the blade are wide apart which suggests that the rib was of considerable width. In Egypt broad blades were used as a kind of long sword for slashing (Petrie, 1917, p. 31); on this basis a similar use may be assumed for these specimens also. The spearheads of the Harappa civilization are primitive in form and thin and broad in the blade without any mid-rib and have a tang instead of a socket unlike those from Egypt and Sumer. Most of them could buckle on impact. The leaf-shaped spearhead is universal. No barbed blade has been found, but it has a clear representation on a Mohenjo-daro seal (Mackay, 1938, p. 366, pl. 88, 279).