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 Replies: 149 / Views: 15,520 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United Kingdom
1168 Posts |
Another very interesting and informative post, Bob. (And a beautifully photographed composite.) I hadn't seen such a thing before, and I would hope that they were ceremonial or burial items, as I'd hate to be operated on with such an instrument!  Looking forward to the next post. Jim |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
7066 Posts |
Figured you'd appreciate the mystery with this one, Jim.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
1168 Posts |
Quote:
Figured you'd appreciate the mystery with this one, Jim.  It seems that every time I open a coin envelope these days, Toyah Willcox starts singing "It's A Mystery". |
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Moderator
United States
34426 Posts |
Interesting addition Bob. It seems to me that having a cutting edge on both sides would be fairly inefficient for a surgical knife. I agree that a ceremonial use seems more likely.
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Pillar of the Community
 Spain
2752 Posts |
Nice addition Bob and very interesting!..Nice little extra! Apart from the broken blade it seems to be in good condition..Sacrificial dagger?. What do the arrow heads look like? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
1168 Posts |
The links work fine from here, Bob. The arrowheads are in great condition given their age, and are worthy additions to the collection.  Looking forward to seeing the others.  |
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
Very interesting piece, Surgical tools 3000 years old wow. Always enjoy seeing your new pieces and reading your write ups.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
Spain
2752 Posts |
Very nice Bob!....Cool photography too .... Just out of curiosity how were these tanged heads attached to the shaft? Was it drilled out or split? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
Thanks, Paul. Quote:
...how were these tanged heads attached to the shaft?
Was it drilled out or split? I believe the wood shafts were split, then tied after the head was inserted. I know this was the case with the spearheads, so I'm assuming it was a similar process with the arrowheads. I find it interesting that the ends of some of the spearhead tangs were bent in what is sometimes referred to as a "rat tail." The design apparently prevented, or at least minimized, further splitting of the wood shafts upon hitting their targets, thus allowing the spears to be reused. Two rat-tail spearheads from my collection, and a diagram explaining the fabrication, below.   Edited by Kamnaskires
12/30/2020 5:34 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Spain
2752 Posts |
Interesting Thanks!...
It also makes you realise just how much time, ie man hours, that went into producing these arrows. Not just the head and shaft attachment but then you've also got the fletching and nock, no wonder they recollected after a battle. Not something you can 'knock up' in a few minutes...Also read that the ties were then waxed or tarred and also the shafts were probably soaked in water before assembly?
Again just out of interest do you think that weapons in general were continually manufactured on site when there was a battle?
Edited by Palouche
12/30/2020 6:20 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
That would make sense, Paul. I also suspect there must have been lots of recycling of downed arrowheads and spearheads, perhaps for centuries. I used to collect socketed trilobe Parthian-type arrowheads (I keep a group shot in my Parthian gallery). Each time I would add a new one to that collection, I would think about the fact that it could probably be attached to a new, modern-day shaft and used anew. Of course the older, larger, and no doubt more brittle tanged arrowheads, from the more distant period I collect nowadays, would be useless today. But I would imagine that they would have remained usable for decades back then, given the right conditions. Perhaps some of them, like coins, passed from person to person, but via battlefield cleanups and grave robberies rather than commercial transactions.
Edited by Kamnaskires
12/30/2020 7:10 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
Time for an update. Here's a Luristani dagger from about 1000 BC. It's in desperate need of some TLC - conservation, that is. It measures 36.8cm (14.5"). It's a particularly interesting type. The pommel is divided into two semicircular "ears." In describing this type in his Catalogue of the Ancient Persian Bronzes in the Ashmolean Museum, P. R. S. Moorey mentions that the "lower part of the hilt (is) cast in imitation of an inlaid flanged hilt complete with guard flanges." And, indeed, if you take a look at the first dagger I posted in this thread (page one), you'll see the guard flanges - the tabs - that would be bent over the wood or bone inlays, to hold them in place. You can see, on the left-most image below - in the part of the hilt that looks like a little hourglass - the cast faux flanges.  |
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Pillar of the Community
Spain
2752 Posts |
Wonderful looking specimen Bob!..... Quote:
It's in desperate need of some TLC - conservation, that is. Really interested in what the conservation procedure would be for this type of artifact? Lovely addition to your impressive collection! ps....Great photo, allows you to zoom in and feel the surfaces...................Paul |
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Replies: 149 / Views: 15,520 |
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Posted 12/29/2020 6:23 pm
