Spearhead

Description

The large iron spearhead has a peculiar shape called bicostolate leaf. The point has a very elongated shape and the length of the cannon almost reaches that of the "leaf," which has a lozenge shape without rounding and with a barely noticeable central rib. The object can be placed between the mid-4th century B.C. and the mid-3rd century acanti Cristo and agrees broadly with similar types widespread in Etruscan, Roman-Republican, and also Celtic settings. Unfortunately, it is not possible to be very precise in placing an iron weapon such as this one since it was found outside of a closed context. We can, however, describe its component parts. The point is the upper part of the spear and is lozenge-shaped, or rhombus-shaped. The rib is located in the center of the tip and runs the entire length of the tip, creating further parallelism with the leaves. The cannon is the part between the tip and the wooden shaft that was used to hold the weapon. What was a spear like this used for? Mainly for fighting, thus as a tool for attack and defense, as the Etruscans were often found waging war with neighboring peoples. Precisely for this reason, the discovery of this spearhead has led some archaeologists to think that the great Etruscan temple was a highland fortress, that is, a settlement located on a hill, which had both a defensive role and an occasional residence of the great noble families in whose estates it stood. In short, we could say, the ancestors of medieval castles.