Working with an Original Bronze Age Basal Looped Spear

Filmed Edited & Produced by Emma Jones of ELWJ Media - www.elwjmedia.co.uk
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[@StefanMilo]

The preservation of these last 2 bronze artefacts has been absolutely incredible.

[@ancientcraftUK]

I’ve been really lucky to work with some amazing objects recently. More to come later in the year too!

[@stumccabe]

What a beautiful object! I will be watching your progress carefully.

[@crow1066]

Their form and sectional qualities are exquisite.
It's surprising that they were mounted on such slender shafts too. They aren't as light as Iron spearheads. Glorious. Best of luck with the moulding and casting. Centering the core was the bedevilment of my Chertsey one. Cast 9 times and only got 2 successful casts because of the core sitting ever so slightly out of whack.

[@ancientcraftUK]

I’m sort-of looking forward to casting it, but also not!

[@stevenolan7972]

I think Will Lord has recreated a similar bronze spearhead on TH-cam.

[@fabricio-agrippa-zarate]

That spearhead is so well preserved it still looks very dangerous! That tip seems very sharp.

[@wernervoss6357]

That spearhead is in such good condition that I thought the original was the replica.

[@jl6569]

Hey there how much does this artifact weigh? Also was this type of spear used for hunting or for war or something else entirely?

[@kurtisengle6256]

If a handle, made from perhaps a broken spear shaft, were attached to that point, that would be a sword in all be name.

[@bc7138]

Do you know what this spear could have been used for? Was it for hunting or war (or both?) Or was it purely ceremonial?

[@tanfosbery1153]

Just wondering if the whole spine of the spearhead is hollow, or just the socket ?

[@ancientcraftUK]

Almost the whole spine! Crazily good metalworking

[@lorenhoward3854]

@@ancientcraftUK I have worked in bronze, mold making and archaeology replicas. I wonder if the core for the blades hollow spine and socket could be made of a burnable material like wood. It is rigid, easy to carve and index to the interior of the blade mold investment or sand casting, wouldn't need to last very long in the casting, at least until the bronze solidified. A large enough pour cup would provide enough pressure to fill the blade edges.

[@pogaul15]

Je met un pouce très intéressant et je m'abonne 👍👍

[@LuxisAlukard]

Looks great!
But what are those holes for? Or you're going to talk about that when you make your own spear?

[@ancientcraftUK]

These don’t appear to have rivet holes or for a cross-dowel. So looks like the loops were used to tie the head with binding onto the shaft, bit weird I know!

[@LuxisAlukard]

@@ancientcraftUK Thanks!
Can't wait to see that spear completed and tested!

[@greenjack1959l]

Perhaps to attach fur or feathers or even scalps to confuse an enemy, as some Oriental polearms have?

[@captainflint8412]

Is a breakdown of greens typology coming along soon ? Get cool bronze artifacts ! ... Flint is my favorite material for weapons of the ancient past

[@ryanbrown172]

Why would a copper-alloy mold aid in casting a thin blade?

[@user-ug5sb6qg1u]

It could be more easily refined and detailed than a stone or clay mold.

[@greenjack1959l]

Are there any examples of this type of spear from early modern or contemporary tribal sources? Could the loops have been somewhere to attach scalp locks or feathers to confuse an enemy in combat perhaps?

[@MrJento]

So. Is that the “assault rifle” of the Bronze Age?