An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c24.s2.11

v1.c24.s2.11

*19.2.4 Spearheads.* Altogether eight spearheads have been discovered, five from SARTHAULI and one each from FATEHGARH, MANPUR and NIORAI. They have also been termed as ‘hooked swords’, though the hook of the Fatehgarh weapon, which is broad-bladed and is commonly called ‘Elliot sword’, is not very clear. All these weapons are more than 70 cm long and in spite of their long blades should be taken to be spearheads and not swords. Gordon, 1958, p. 137, says: ‘Both (Fatehgarh and Niorai) weapons have a projection curving outwards from the tang, and the same contrivance is found on three out of five spearheads found at Sarthauli. The ‘Elliot Sword’, has all the appearance of a sword but the three examples from Sarthauli with similarly furnished tangs are barb-headed and must be intended for spears’. This type of projection is seen on the harpoon-head found at the same site and was evidently a method of fastening alternative to the holed lug.