Hand-forged sometime between the 3rd and 4th centuries A.D., and displaying a slender, leaf-shaped blade, tubular flaring socket and an attachment hole in the neck, this Samartian Spearhead would have been a formidable weapon in the hands of an ancient warrior.
Interestingly for the times, that warrior may have been a woman.
The Sarmatians were a group of ancient tribes of Iranian origin who migrated into the area of Ukraine, southern Russia, and the eastern Balkans from the 5th century BC onward. They were closely related to the Scythians, both culturally and linguistically, and are classified as part of the broader Scytho-Sarmatian cultural group. They flourished until around the 4th century AD.
Archaeological evidence and ancient accounts suggest that women may have played a significant role as warriors in Sarmatian society. The Greek historian Herodotus mentions Sarmatian women warriors, and archaeological discoveries have found graves of Sarmatian women buried with weapons and war gear. Some scholars believe that the legends of the Amazon warriors may have been inspired by these Sarmatian warrior women.
Mounted on oak and textured steel, and measuring c.49cm in length, this amazing historical artefact could be yours to own today.
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ANCIENT SAMARTIAN SPEARHEAD
Acquired by Timeless on the UK Antiquities market, 2022. Formerly in a 1980s private collection based in Mainz, Germany.