An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c24.s3.t1: 19.3.3 Spearheads
An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c24.s3.t1
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19.3.3 Spearheads
v1.c24.s3.t1.1
The spear is a long-shafted weapon intended solely for thrusting. It is a class name and includes many named varieties like the javelin, lance, etc., and unnamed varieties. Wooden spears were used in the earliest times and are still used by many aboriginal tribes. Stone, bone, horn, ivory and shell have been used for spearheads, but in later times iron is the commonest material.
v1.c24.s3.t1.2
GANGAPUR, a Megalithic [4.17.6] site, has produced an almost intact iron spearhead. As compared to the dagger-blades found here, this spearhead has a longer and thinner blade and a longer tang. Its edges are rusted and are hence irregular, the blade thin and biconvex and the tang long and circular in section. It has been assigned to 8th-7th century B.C.
v1.c24.s3.t1.3
A notable iron spearhead has been unearthed at PRAKASH, Pd II. A part of the tang and tip of the blade are broken but what remains is a clear evidence of this object having been used as a spearhead.
v1.c24.s3.t1.4
Fifty-eight examples have been recovered at KAUŚĀMBĪ, almost all in a very good condition. They comprise five main types: (i) leaf-shaped with a small blade and lozenge cross-section; (ii) with a large flattened leaf-shaped blade and lozenge cross-section; (iii) with a solid point, plain tang and square cross-section; (iv) with a socketed head and circular cross-section; and (v) with a socket and rectangular cross-section. Among these type (i) appears to be the earliest. All the types are referable to Pd III, 605 to 45 B.C., according to the excavator.
v1.c24.s3.t1.5
KESARAPALLE has yielded a spearhead from the area of a Megalithic [4.17.7] burial. A fragment has also been recovered in Pd II, *c.* 5th century B.C. to the middle of 1st century A.D.
v1.c24.s3.t1.6
KAUṆḌINYAPURA has provided a few interesting specimens, mostly belonging to the post-Mauryan period, but one of them is medieval. The following specimens have been recorded: (i) long end of javelin, 40 cm long, having a sharp-pointed broad leaf-shaped blade about 20-30 cm in length, having a solid tenon with a splayed bottom and a solid ribbing in the middle; (ii) leaf-shaped javelin-head, 29 cm in length, and having a socketed tenon, found in association with (i); (iii) javelin-tip with a fish-shaped profile having a splayed base and a round tenon with a flattish circular appendage at the end, apparently meant for fitting it tightly into a long wooden pole, the circular end meant to prevent the iron portion from slipping; and (iv) long leaf-shaped blade of a javelin, lenticular in section, length 16 cm, breadth 4 cm, medieval.
v1.c24.s3.t1.7
Taxila has yielded several types of spear- and javelin-heads and a socketed butt. The former have been broadly classified into the following types (Marshall, 1951, 2, p. 546): (i) spike-shaped spearhead of iron, four-sided with tang for fixing into wooden shaft, of great penetrating power against plate or mail armour, length 19 cm, 3rd to 2nd century B.C.; (ii) four specimens, with the shaft and head in one piece, (a) one shaft broken, 98·50 cm long, the head three-flanged, 3rd to 2nd century B.C., (b) another, similar but with four-flanged head, shaft broken, length 63·50 cm, 1st century A.D., (c) similar to (b) and from same spot, and (d) a javelin-head of narrow leaf shape, broken, length 16·50 cm, probably of the same class of heavy javelins as (a) to (c), though only 7·50 cm of the shaft is preserved, 5th century A.D., (b) and (c), with four-flanged head, being from Sirkap; (iii) leaf-shaped with central rib and tang, tang broken, length 21 cm, 1st century A.D.; and (iv) socketed, two specimens, one dagger-shaped with hollow socket (broken), length 18 cm, 1st century A.D., and the other of knife-blade pattern, length 30 cm, 5th century A D The socketed butt is represented by a solitary conical spear-butt, with horizontal rim.
v1.c24.s3.t1.8
Two spearheads, both socketed and with leaf-shaped blades, are recorded from NEVASA, one 15·10 cm long, 3·40 cm broad, diameter of socket 2 cm, from Pd II (200 B.C. to A.D. 40), no details of the other being available, except that it has a length of 15·10 cm and a socket-diameter of 1·90 cm.
v1.c24.s3.t1.9
From MASKI have been recorded two fragmentary lance-handles and a spearhead: (i) handle of a lance, possibly with a round section; (ii) lance; and (iii) leaf-shaped spearhead. The first two are from megaliths [4.17.8] and the third is from an unstratified deposit in a rock-shelter.
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PAUNAR, Pd II B, has produced an almost complete spearhead with squarish tang and pointed blade.
v1.c24.s3.t1.11
Eight pieces of spearheads come from NEVASA, two of which are socketed, three tanged and the rest blade fragments. Most of them are concentrated in the levels of Pd V, 50 B.C. to A.D. 200, whereas one each comes from Pd IV, 150 to 50 B.C., and Pd VI, A.D. 1400 to 1700. The distribution reveals that the socketed and the tanged varieties are contemporaneous. The maximum extant breadth of the socketed variety is 5·10 cm, while that of the tanged specimens is 3·50 cm, the maximum length of the latter being 17·7 cm.
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RANG MAHAL has yielded a complete spearhead and sockets of two spears. The spearhead is leaf-shaped with a comparatively long shank, while one of the sockets has a wing-like downward projection over the sheath. All these specimens belong to the Kushan period.
v1.c24.s3.t1.13
NAGARA has provided spearheads of two types: (i) with thin lenticular section and convex-sided blade, tanged, from a late level of Pd III, first centuries of the Christian era; and (ii) with triangular section and convex sides from the middle level of Pd II, 3rd century B.C. to the beginning of the Christian era. Spearheads of type (i) are very common, being found at MAHESHWAR, SISUPALGARH and KAUŚĀMBĪ, from the 2nd century B.C. to the 5th century A.D. The form also occurs in several s. Megalithic sites including ADICHANALLUR. Parallels of type (ii) are difficult to find.
v1.c24.s3.t1.14
The lance and spearheads of RAIRH are cast and then shaped by hammering. To the first of the two types belong a number of pointed dagger-like heads with and without mid-ribs; the second type is represented by weapons which has almost flat blades. One is a tough lance-head, over 38 cm long, provided with a strong mid-rib and a tubular tang in which the lance was fitted. Another example, 23·50 cm, is also without mid-rib but has the same type of tang. Still another specimen is provided with a solid tang which was fitted into the lance. All these weapons belong to 2nd-3rd centuries.
v1.c24.s3.t1.15
SISUPALGARH has produced the following specimens: (i) fragment of a spearhead with fissured socket, from an upper level of Pd III, *c.* A.D. 200 to 350; (ii) spearhead, from the late accumulations of Pd III at the gateway; (iii) spearhead, from a deposit contemporary with Pd II B at the gateway, *c.* A.D. 100 to 200; and (iv) spearhead constricted in the middle, from the accumulations of Pd III outside the n. gateway-flank.
v1.c24.s3.t1.16
BRAHMAPURI has a few javelin-heads. They are leaf-like or triangular in shape and have simple tangs, but none with sockets. All belong to *c.* A.D. 300.
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HASTINĀPURA has yielded a leaf-shaped spearhead with flattened section and with a tang from the latest level of Pd V, medieval. This shows that tanged spearheads were popular throughout.