Chinese antique arrowheads
Just wanted to show my latest findings on the new forum.
First, a batch of bi-metal heads, with an iron tang and a bronze point.
Usually the long tang is broken just after the head, I was lucky to find these in such a good state of preservation
First, a batch of bi-metal heads, with an iron tang and a bronze point.
Usually the long tang is broken just after the head, I was lucky to find these in such a good state of preservation
and an arrow whistle of a new type (for me)
:D Very lucky with both finds. The iron-tang heads look early: Late Warring States.
Yup, I was very happy with my saturday harvest, flint heads, bronze heads, iron heads, I bought about 50 including many beautiful ones.
About the whistling head, would it be liao as usual ?
Iron, total length (including the tang remains) is 5.5 cm.
About the whistling head, would it be liao as usual ?
Iron, total length (including the tang remains) is 5.5 cm.
It doesn't look like Liao to me. The Liao heads usually used bone for the whistle chamber. It might be Jin or even Song.
Today I found 2 bronze whistle and a Liao bone one
The same, different view
another bi-metal, Qin style
and this weird long thing... it is broken at the beginning of the tang so what you see is the outside part of the arrow head.
Made of bronze, it seems hard to believe it had a military use, it should be way too easy to break...
Made of bronze, it seems hard to believe it had a military use, it should be way too easy to break...
detail
Romain; This is good stuff! Keep on posting your finds.
I made a whistling arrow some time back. After some modifications it did start to whistle. Other shooters do enjoy when it is used, but it is so heavy. It's trajectory is somewhat poor. Do you have any idea of the weight of, say, the brass item? Would be nice to compare. -j-
I made a whistling arrow some time back. After some modifications it did start to whistle. Other shooters do enjoy when it is used, but it is so heavy. It's trajectory is somewhat poor. Do you have any idea of the weight of, say, the brass item? Would be nice to compare. -j-
Jack,
I weighted a few arrow heads and the result was a surprise :
-the tiny brass whistles above (the 4 sided one and the round one) came out at 8g and 8.2g respectively (= 123 and 127 grains).
-while the iron whistle with the 3 blade broadhead on top came at 7g only (=108 grains)
This to be compared with one of the Warring States bi-metal war head higher above which weights today 15.6g (= 241 grains) but was probably heavier when still intact (maybe it is the other way round, I forgot if rust is heavier than iron or lighter)
I weighted a few arrow heads and the result was a surprise :
-the tiny brass whistles above (the 4 sided one and the round one) came out at 8g and 8.2g respectively (= 123 and 127 grains).
-while the iron whistle with the 3 blade broadhead on top came at 7g only (=108 grains)
This to be compared with one of the Warring States bi-metal war head higher above which weights today 15.6g (= 241 grains) but was probably heavier when still intact (maybe it is the other way round, I forgot if rust is heavier than iron or lighter)
Stephen,
I was reading in the archives your 12 October, 1998 letter (by the way, it would be nice if you could post a new one for 2005 !).
You mentionned an expert named "arrowhead WANG".
Is this fellow still around studying arrowheads ?
I was reading in the archives your 12 October, 1998 letter (by the way, it would be nice if you could post a new one for 2005 !).
You mentionned an expert named "arrowhead WANG".
Is this fellow still around studying arrowheads ?
I think he is still around, though I haven't had contact with him for some time. Although I paid a lot of attention to his views at first, I subsequently found that his understanding of arrowheads was very limited. However his collection is quite large and very interesting.
His real name wasn't Wang. He used 'Wang' when he was talking to dealers in the markets so that he would not be identified. (Not quite sure why :? )
S.
His real name wasn't Wang. He used 'Wang' when he was talking to dealers in the markets so that he would not be identified. (Not quite sure why :? )
S.
Today, I'll show you arrowheads that are a bit older than what I usually post.
First, a set of stone heads. Small, sharp, cute, they appear to match what was made in Neolithic Europe. The longer one on the right with these strange grooves is a blade taken from a big stone and the hollow traces you see show where other blades have been taken from the same stone before.
I know this thanks to one of my French friend who studies Neolithic missile weapons for his thesis (all about bows, arrows and atlatls !)
First, a set of stone heads. Small, sharp, cute, they appear to match what was made in Neolithic Europe. The longer one on the right with these strange grooves is a blade taken from a big stone and the hollow traces you see show where other blades have been taken from the same stone before.
I know this thanks to one of my French friend who studies Neolithic missile weapons for his thesis (all about bows, arrows and atlatls !)
For these bone arrowheads on the other hand, he never saw such designs in Europe.
Either they are of a distinct chinese style, or they are fakes (but they do appear genuine) or they are outside of the early period he studies in Europe.
It could be an explanation : these arrowheads could be of a more recent period than Neolithic, and these heads could even try to reproduce the shape of contemporary metallic models.
Just like the very late egyptian flint knifes were copying the shape of the new copper models of knife.
Either they are of a distinct chinese style, or they are fakes (but they do appear genuine) or they are outside of the early period he studies in Europe.
It could be an explanation : these arrowheads could be of a more recent period than Neolithic, and these heads could even try to reproduce the shape of contemporary metallic models.
Just like the very late egyptian flint knifes were copying the shape of the new copper models of knife.
Left side 1-2-3 appear to be Shang-Zhou. These arrowheads were made in very large quantities. This design was common up to Eastern Zhou, when a more triangular cross-section (4-5) became more popular.
Bone arrowheads were used up until the last century in China.
Bone arrowheads were used up until the last century in China.
Thanks for the datation Stephen
Hello, this is what I found today.
First, a whistling arrow with a big blade in front.
First, a whistling arrow with a big blade in front.
View from the side
another type, quite similar though
view from the side
I also found a big Liao bone whistle
view from the front
and finally, I found an iron head, quite common, except for the holes in the middle of it shaped like a western 8.
This is the first like this for me.
This is the first like this for me.
I did not find a bronze bracer, but I did not come back home empty handed from Panjiayuan last Saturday.
These 2 long tanged bronze heads are not in a pristine condition but remains of wrapping can be seen below one of the heads, on the tang. Maybe formerly put there in order to increase the tang's diameter in a bamboo or cane arrow.
These 2 long tanged bronze heads are not in a pristine condition but remains of wrapping can be seen below one of the heads, on the tang. Maybe formerly put there in order to increase the tang's diameter in a bamboo or cane arrow.
Whistling arrows ! (I will have enough of these soon to start an orchestra)
This is similar to one I showed recently, except that it's much less corroded.
This is similar to one I showed recently, except that it's much less corroded.
View from the side
Another singing arrow head, shaped like a ball with a fish tail in front.
Another view
And finally, two dangerously bladed whistling heads, both with their tang removed.
I'm sorry if the picture is not clear enough, but it appears on the real artifacts that the tang was soldered or welded to the sound chamber.
4 bronze arrow head. I guess they are older than my usual findings (or maybe they're fakes... :( )
No, I don't think they're fakes. The seem to be late Shang/Early Zhou, say 1100-1000BCE. If the central spine shows a clear hexagon when you look at it from the front, it should be Shang. If it is round, then it may be a bit later.
S.
S.
Thanks for the reply Stephen. I'll check their spine cross-section tonight.
It appears that the second from the right might be hexagonal in shape (I mean its spine seen from the front)
Today, a few whistling arrows :
First, 2 iron ones :
First, 2 iron ones :
Then some more original ones :
The one on the left is made of bone, the whistle AND the head on top. I guess it would soon stop whistling after repetitive impacts...
On the right is a simple whistle, but made of terra cotta. It's a first for me.
The one on the left is made of bone, the whistle AND the head on top. I guess it would soon stop whistling after repetitive impacts...
On the right is a simple whistle, but made of terra cotta. It's a first for me.
last, I have the feeling that this arrow, supposedly found in Inner Mongolia, is rather Greek in design rather than Chinese...
See the leaf shape ? The socket ? The little needle at the back ?
See the leaf shape ? The socket ? The little needle at the back ?
It is in fact this little and nasty needle designed to make the arrow removal difficult that made me think of a greek or greek style arrow head.
What do you think ?
What do you think ?
Romain,
When Scythian arrow heads were cast the mold made two three-bladed arrow heads and one two-bladed arrow head. A little barb on the socket was not uncommon. The arrow heads were sprued from the pointed end. After casting the sprue was cut away and the tip was shaped. I have seen pictures of Chinese arrow heads cast in a "tree" with the sprues running to the tangs. Casting tanged heads might have been easier than ones with sockets.
The only logical explanation of the barb is to prevent removal of the arrow from a wound as you suggest. This the first I have seen with the barb directly on one of the blades. There are many tables of arrow head shapes published in Russian archaeological journals. Maybe you could find a similar head there.
When Scythian arrow heads were cast the mold made two three-bladed arrow heads and one two-bladed arrow head. A little barb on the socket was not uncommon. The arrow heads were sprued from the pointed end. After casting the sprue was cut away and the tip was shaped. I have seen pictures of Chinese arrow heads cast in a "tree" with the sprues running to the tangs. Casting tanged heads might have been easier than ones with sockets.
The only logical explanation of the barb is to prevent removal of the arrow from a wound as you suggest. This the first I have seen with the barb directly on one of the blades. There are many tables of arrow head shapes published in Russian archaeological journals. Maybe you could find a similar head there.
Bede,
You're right, greek arrowheads have their barb on the socket and not on the blade, as shows the photo below of a 5th century BC sample...
So what is my arrowhead ? Maybe a Scythian cast, copy or prototype.... (who copied who ?)
You're right, greek arrowheads have their barb on the socket and not on the blade, as shows the photo below of a 5th century BC sample...
So what is my arrowhead ? Maybe a Scythian cast, copy or prototype.... (who copied who ?)
Once again, I saw a batch of amazingly long bronze arrows...
Their price being quite high, I did not buy any.
Have you some knowledge about these ?
Their price being quite high, I did not buy any.
Have you some knowledge about these ?
See, this is the shorter one...
And check how long was the part protuding from the arrow shaft !
And check how long was the part protuding from the arrow shaft !
I think that these long-necked arrowheads may have been Warring States crossbow bolts. The shaft might not have extended much below the end of the tang - just enough to create a nock. Unfletched and shot with a force of over 100#, they would have been quite effective for piercing leather armour.
Bamboo was used for arrow shafts in Central China in the WS period. I speculate that a bamboo shaft behind a solid bronze head would have either shattered or bent under a high force; so it may have been necessary to make a virtually solid bronze bolt with a wood or bone nock lying directly against the bronze tang.
Bamboo was used for arrow shafts in Central China in the WS period. I speculate that a bamboo shaft behind a solid bronze head would have either shattered or bent under a high force; so it may have been necessary to make a virtually solid bronze bolt with a wood or bone nock lying directly against the bronze tang.
A whistling day today !
More whistling
again
A cute iron one
The mother of all iron whistling arrows
From above...
and now the prettiest ever whistling arrow...
the prettiest from above
and from the socket
And now, a truly mamothesque discovery
Whistling iron head, 883 grains, its socket would fit a 1/2" shaft.
I wonder if this monster was really shot from a bow or rather mounted on the tip of a rocket...
Whistling iron head, 883 grains, its socket would fit a 1/2" shaft.
I wonder if this monster was really shot from a bow or rather mounted on the tip of a rocket...
Strange whistling head discovered yesterday...
Stone, heavy, I wonder if it's a real old one or a replica, however the price was quite cheap so I wonder who would make a fake and then bargain it.
Stone, heavy, I wonder if it's a real old one or a replica, however the price was quite cheap so I wonder who would make a fake and then bargain it.
same
again
these 2 bone ones look strange too
finally, a nice batch of bone arrow heads, non whistling.