Massive Late European Bronze Age Finely Ribbed Socketted Spearhead
Circa 10th century B.C. Formed with an elongated leaf-shaped blade, the socket extending into the blade in the form of a tapered mid-rib with decorative raised central grooves. Cf. Christie's, The Axel Guttmann Collection of Ancient Arms and Armour, part 1, London, 2002, pp.10-11, no.5, for similar spearhead.449 grams, 45 cm (17 3/4 in.). Acquired from John Cummings, UK, in 1988. Ex Lord Alistair McAlpine collection. This spear seems to have parallels to those found in the tombs of the 'sword bearers' of central-southern Europe, an aristocratic class of the Urn Fields civilisation who had its last period of splendour between 10th-9th centuries B.C. The weapons were deposited with various objects inside incineration graves, but the spears were often ritually damaged (see tomb 5 of the necropolis of Pontenuovo di Gazzo Veronese broken into three parts). Our spear, in the upper part, seems to show traces of oxidation due to the fire of the funeral pyre, and probably came from a tomb.