It is often the case that the sides of the upper part of the blade are nearly straight, and the socket itself appears large in proportion to the width of the blade. Such a spear- or lance-head from the Reach Fen hoard is shown in Fig. 386. I have several others from the Fen districts, as well as one of a shorter and broader form (5 inches) with a large socket extending only an inch below the blade, found at Walthamstow, Essex.
A spear-head from Unter-Uhldingen[1210] exhibits the same narrowness of blade in proportion to the size of the socket.
In some cases the blade and socket are of nearly equal length.
Fig. 387 is here by permission reproduced from Wilde’s Catalogue, Fig. 367. It is only 3½ inches long, and may have been the head of a dart or javelin rather than of a spear. I have an example of nearly the same form and size from Co. Dublin. One in the British Museum is only 2 inches long, though the mouth of the socket is ¾ inch in diameter.
Some of these very small weapons may possibly have served to point arrows. In the Norwich Museum is a head like Fig. 387, but with the blade shorter in proportion and narrower, the total length of which is only 1-11/16 inch. The blade is ½ inch wide, and the socket is only ⅜ inch in external diameter. A bronze arrow-head is said to have been found in the Isle of Portland,[1211] but particulars are not given. Another small point, in form rather like Fig. 386, and only 3⅛ inches long, was found at Llan-y-mynech Hill,[1212] Montgomeryshire. Another, 3½ inches, was found near Pyecombe,[1213] Sussex.
One 4 inches long is said to have been found in Yorkshire.[1214]
Some double-pointed arrow-heads of bronze are mentioned as having been found in Ireland,[1215] but in point of fact these were “razors” like Fig. 274.
In this country,[1216] however, and not improbably in others, during the period when bronze was in use for cutting tools and the larger weapons, flint still served as the material from which arrow-heads were usually made. Such a method of taking the census as that devised by the Scythian king Ariantas would in Britain have produced but small results; at all events, but few of the inhabitants would have been able each to contribute his bronze arrow-head. Many of the bronze arrow-heads found on the Continent appear to belong to the Early Iron Age, but it is mainly in southern countries that they have been found.
In Egypt[1217] and Arabia they have occurred of the leaf-shaped as well as of the three-edged form, which latter is common in Greece.