The team used experimental methods to replicate the interaction between Bronze Age spears and various materials, such as metal blades, wooden shafts, shields, and even animal tissues to mimic human bodies. By creating realistic combat conditions with these spear replicas, the researchers could observe how impact marks developed on the spearheads. This approach allowed them to reliably reconstruct combat dynamics and study the formation of marks over time.
"Our experiments will benefit future research, because we have created a useful guide to recognize and understand the wear and tear on Bronze Age weapons. This information source will enable researchers and museum curators to study the objects already in their samples and collections with a fresh perspective. They can compare the marks they find with the ones we have documented and made freely available," explains Dr. Valerio Gentile, who led the study as part of his PhD work at Leiden University and continues this research at Gottingen University.
The team's findings provide essential clues about the combat techniques employed during the Bronze Age. Their method not only helps determine if a weapon was used but can also identify whether it was involved in large-scale battles or one-on-one duels. This insight could reshape our understanding of the nature and scale of conflicts in the distant past.
Research Report:Multi-stage experiments in Bronze Age spear combat: insights on wear formation, trauma, and combat contexts
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