A truly remarkable example of the beginnings of
bronze craftsmanship in human civilization, this
bronze javelin head derives from the Indus
Valley. This piece represents the ingenuity of the
human race, just in the beginning stages of
developing metallurgy for the protection and
sustenance of the species. Early metal working
experienced a significant advance with the
advent of bronze casting, a process which
alloyed tin with the copper previously used for
the castings. This new achievement served to
create a stronger and more durable metal. This
piece was most probably first cast in the rough
shape of the finished product and then the
points were forged to their final state,
simultaneously creating sharpened edges and
giving them a hardened surface that would help
retain a sharpened edge.
The javelin head incorporates a sizable fuller
ridge running the entire length of the blade. The
tang would probably have been set into a
wooden shaft and wrapped with rawhide in order
to secure it. The purpose of the barbs was to
prevent such a weapon from being withdrawn
easily from the wound of an animal or human
enemy hit with the weapon.
This javelin would have been the pride and joy of
whatever warrior owned it, representing the state
of the art in warfare and weaponry. At that point
in time, such an item would have been extremely
costly and may have belonged to a chieftain or
some other man of significance and wealth.
