Up next is a nice, slim spearhead from Ethiopia. It has a narrow, willow-leaf shape and a long socket or ferrule decorated with a patchwork design. The blade has a strong midrib, with concave areas left coated with dark-colored oxide. I don't think it's necessarily a utilitarian item - it is thin and light and would not stand up to much serious use. It may be more of a cultural item, from an area where men habitually carry spears yet rarely use them.
Although the piece is not necessarily well-made, it certainly looks like it was. Overall, the shape is trim and elegant. The strong midrib and bare metal/oxide decoration make for a dramatic appearance (much like the Tutsi spearhead I described last weekend). Another interesting decorative feature is the patchwork or checkerboard design of oxide and metal created by removing areas of oxide. The nice, long ferrule is a strong, functional element. The edges are blunted, which generally indicates a tourist-art origin. Would have been used with a 6-7' hardwood or possibly bamboo shaft. I hope to pair this with a cane shaft in the near future. There's a small hole near the base of the ferrule for a pin.
Length (overall): About 17".
Length (blade/point): About 10 1/4".
Length (other dimensions): Socket is a little over 6".
Width at widest point (blade/point): About 1 1/4".
Width (other dimensions):
Materials: A lightweight piece of steel. Object has a dirty, dusty appearance (would benefit from a light cleaning). A forging flaw is evident on one of the blade's faces. The steel is not high-quality and was probably recycled from scrap materials. The ferrule or socket is long, with an opening slightly less than 1".
I remember seeing a similar spear on display at the Houston Museum of Natural History's Lucy exhibit several years ago. A bident spear was also displayed (I have one I'll be describing shortly). The patchwork design seems diagnostic for Ethiopian spearheads, although it's probably found on Somali points as well.
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