The spear is definitely one of the oldest weapons, if not the oldest. However, the club may well be considered the most ancient, but only a spear, and especially a spear with a flint tip, is a more perfect thing. When did the first spears appear? Science can finally speak out on this score quite definitely. The earliest spearheads have been found in eastern Africa. They are about 280 thousand years old, that is, they are 80 thousand years older than the earliest remains of humans of the modern species Homo sapiens and 200 thousand - other samples of similar artifacts, which were still considered the oldest examples of such products! They were found in the Gademotta Formation on the slopes of a destroyed volcano in a rift valley in central Ethiopia. Today this area is a mountain range that rises above one of the four reservoirs of the rift valley - the picturesque Lake Zivay. During most of the Middle Pleistocene (about 125-780 thousand years ago) there was a "mega-lake", which united the four present ones. Paleontologists have found there numerous remains of antelopes and hippos and 141 obsidian points. They were studied by Yonatan Zale from the University of California, and the object was the tips of a throwing weapon, for which the damage on them was considered. The fact is that at the moment of impact, V-shaped cracks form on the obsidian plates. Moreover, the top of this letter "V" marks the point from which they spread. The narrower the “wings” “V”, the higher the rate of cracking in obsidian was. That is, in the first case, the spear was thrust into the victim, and in the second, it flew at the target, being thrown by a strong hand.
The famous image of the "March of the Warriors" on a vase from Mycenae. Note the leaf-shaped points and strangely shaped pennants on the spears.
Obviously, the invention of projectile weapons was a giant step forward compared to direct impact weapons (stone points for shock spears appear in the archaeological record about 500 thousand years ago). Now hunters were able to attack from a distance, which sharply reduced the risk of dying when approaching a potentially dangerous animal (bull or hippopotamus) and significantly expanded the range of prey itself. Prior to this discovery, it was believed that throwing weapons appeared about 60-100 thousand years ago. The oldest dart found was 80 thousand years old. For them came a bow and arrows, as well as a spear thrower (atlatl). It seemed quite logical that all this was invented by none other than Homo sapiens, because it is much more difficult to invent and manufacture a throwing weapon than a piercing and cutting one. And as soon as this weapon appeared in the hands of our ancestors, they relatively quickly populated the rest of the world, displacing other representatives of the genus Homo from it. However, new data destroy this harmonious picture, and suggest that darts were used not only by our immediate ancestors, but also by representatives of some other, more ancient African population. Zale himself believes that the creator of the oldest darts was, most likely, Heidelberg man - the most likely ancestor of Homo sapiens and the same Neanderthals.
One of the oldest arrowheads of the Achaean time dating from 2700 - 2300. BC, and found on the island of Amorgos in the Cyclades archipelago.
But do not be upset if we never know if people of the genus Homo sapiens adopted this weapon or invented it on their own. It is much more important to know that this period (200-300 thousand years ago) was very important in human evolution: new anatomical features and more complex tools appeared, indicating a change in his behavior (and, accordingly, thinking). Apparently, it was then that people started talking. Do not pay attention to the fact that this find was made in Ethiopia. Anyone and anywhere could have invented them. The main thing is that already at such a distant time from us, ancient people could well have fought at a distance! Although the same stone arrowheads have not always been used by primitive peoples in our time. For example, the spears of the Australian aborigines are most often solid wood, that is, they are a simple sharpened stick! Exactly the same trophy - a polished wooden spear with a harpoon-shaped wooden (!) Tip was obtained in 1779 in the Hawaiian Islands in a battle with the islanders, where Captain James Cook was killed. In the Solomon Islands, the thorns on the spearheads were bone, however, spears with carved wooden tips were also in use there and … why not use exactly the same spears in our distant ancestors in the Stone Age, because all the materials for their manufacture were at their fingertips !
So, having such a historical "groundwork" in the past, it is hardly surprising that both the ancient Cretans and the Achaeans also used spears and javelins. So during the excavations of early Greek settlements, such as Sesklo and Dimini, dating back to the early and middle Bronze Age, spearheads were found in large numbers, and in general they are quite common.
Another similar tip from the Cyclades.
There is a classification of spearheads discovered in their era, but it is not as interesting and clear as the classification of swords, so it hardly makes sense to give it here. But according to the main characteristics, this type of weapon deserves a detailed description. So, judging by the iconographic data, there were three main types of spears: very long, rather long and short.
Fastening of flat-type arrowheads found in the Cyclades and Crete (16th century BC)
The first, which could reach a length of 3 to 5 m, and were used mainly in the early periods, even if their use is confirmed in the Iliad. They could be the weapon of the infantrymen, who held them with both hands, and acted with them both against the enemy in war and against a dangerous animal during the hunt. Most likely, these spears were equipped with large bronze points. In contrast, shorter spears were used throughout the late Bronze Age. Short spears were used for throwing and during close combat or hunting. They are often indistinguishable from darts, that is, special throwing spears.
As for the finds of spearheads, one of the earliest specimens found in the Aegean world is a leaf-shaped copper point dating from 2700-2300. BC, and found on the island of Amorgos in the Cyclades archipelago. Interesting is the shape of this tip and the way it is attached to the shaft. Obviously, it was inserted into a split or cut (see Fig.) And tied to the shaft with a rope or tendons. It is possible that such a fastening was fragile and easily "loosened", therefore such tips were soon (relatively, of course!) Replaced with another - petiolate. Between 1600 and 1200 BC. such petiole arrowheads made of copper and bronze spread throughout the Aegean world and displaced arrowheads of the previous type.
Arrowheads 1600 to 1200 BC found in Cyprus.
Fastening petiole tips.
The authors of this attachment cannot be denied the originality of thinking. Obviously, a hole was made under the petiole in the split with a hole to bring the cap of the petiole to one of the sides. Then the petiole itself was smeared with glue, the hoofed, most likely, was inserted into this hole, and the cleft itself was wrapped again with rope or tendons. Such a mount was much stronger than the previous one, therefore it was more convenient to operate with such a spear both in battle and on a hunt. The tip itself has also become stronger. A noticeable longitudinal rib has appeared on it.
Tip from Pylos (circa 1350 - 1200 BC)
At the end of the late Achaean time, socketed points appeared, which were simply put on the shaft. They were of various shapes - leaf-shaped, with a lenticular profile, with and without a rib, and faceted, often cruciform in cross-section.
Bronze arrowhead from a burial at Azin (around 1300 BC).
Short darts were used not only for throwing, but also in hand-to-hand combat, as can be clearly seen from the fresco from Pylos, where one of the combatants stabs his opponent in the groin with it. It is interesting that although the warrior himself is practically naked, on his head he again has a helmet made of boar's fangs, and on his feet there are shoes that cover his foot and leggings.
A fresco from Pylos.
In a similar way - that is, with a short dart or spear, a warrior in greaves, a "boar's helmet", and a "T-shirt" on a fresco from Mycenae is armed.
Fresco from Mycenae.
But this trident was found during excavations of an Achaean settlement near Hala Sultan Tekke in Cyprus and dates back to the 12th century. BC. It is unlikely that this is something military. Most likely, the fish was beaten with such a troika.
