Spear for comments .. Sudan ?

colin henshaw · 26th April 2017, 10:51 AM

This type of spear is from the Somaliland/Somalia area. The well-made blade form and flat metal butt are distinctive.

But of course they could also diffuse to neighboring areas.

thinreadline · 26th April 2017, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colin henshaw

This type of spear is from the Somaliland/Somalia area. The well-made blade form and flat metal butt are distinctive.

But of course they could also diffuse to neighboring areas.

Thanks Colin ... in which case would you place this similar but larger spear from the same region ... http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=13013

colin henshaw · 26th April 2017, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thinreadline

Thanks Colin ... in which case would you place this similar but larger spear from the same region ... http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=13013

No, I would place this spear in the Northern Nigeria area, perhaps Hausa. The blade form is a bit different and the cross-section is also different, being a flattened diamond and lacking the pronounced midrib of the Somali one. But to mention... Hausa spears of this type can sometimes be virtually identical to spears from Madagascar !

thinreadline · 26th April 2017, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colin henshaw

No, I would place this spear in the Northern Nigeria area, perhaps Hausa. The blade form is a bit different and the cross-section is also different, being a flattened diamond and lacking the pronounced midrib of the Somali one. But to mention... Hausa spears of this type can sometimes be virtually identical to spears from Madagascar !

Thanks Colin ... another wall rearrangement coming up !

Iain · 26th April 2017, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colin henshaw

This type of spear is from the Somaliland/Somalia area. The well-made blade form and flat metal butt are distinctive.

But of course they could also diffuse to neighboring areas.

The broad leaf shaped blade seems to have found its way into quite a few connected regions. Do you have a period photo from Somaliland of one? Not doubting you just curious!

Quote:

No, I would place this spear in the Northern Nigeria area, perhaps Hausa. The blade form is a bit different and the cross-section is also different, being a flattened diamond and lacking the pronounced midrib of the Somali one. But to mention... Hausa spears of this type can sometimes be virtually identical to spears from Madagascar !

I would be surprised if this one is Hausa, spears from the Hausa and Fulani tend to be more lance like and even if broad, much more slender than Sudanese, Chadic or Somali examples.

But I have no major expert in spears, I've tended to focus on the Calvary lances and am a bit out of my depth on the multitude of other spear types in Nigeria.

colin henshaw · 26th April 2017, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iain

The broad leaf shaped blade seems to have found its way into quite a few connected regions. Do you have a period photo from Somaliland of one? Not doubting you just curious!

How about this from the Oldman catalogue

Iain · 27th April 2017, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colin henshaw

How about this from the Oldman catalogue

Thanks! I'd always had this style more in mind from Somalia. http://www.africanarms.com/album/all-albums/!/oa/6644091-106314862/

Kubur · 27th April 2017, 09:42 AM

More Sudanese spears...

Iain · 28th April 2017, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kubur

More Sudanese spears...

Spears in your first image (the museum display) are not Sudanese but from Congo.

27th April 2017, 09:42 AM	#8
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	More Sudanese spears... Attached Images

26th April 2017, 10:51 AM	#1
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,429	This type of spear is from the Somaliland/Somalia area. The well-made blade form and flat metal butt are distinctive. But of course they could also diffuse to neighboring areas.