From: David Cake (davidc@cyllene.uwa.edu.au)
Date: Thu 18 Dec 1997 - 11:13:58 EET
Russ Massey said
> I think of a 'long spear' as being 7 feet plus - something used for
>thrusting and not for throwing.
which immediately made me think of Australian Aboriginal spears,
many of which are well over 7 feet, and are designed for throwing. Often
thrown with a spear thrower, of the type often called a woomera. The
Agimori and Australian Aboriginal lifestyles don't seem two different. And
Australian Aboriginal warfare was AFAIK relatively similar to what Dave
Pearton describes as
>In addition the pre-Shaka conflicts were faught with a long spear,
>basically two impis would face each other and throw long spears
>(essentially javelins) at each other until one side ran away.
Just a different point of view, a contrast to the swiss pikemen and
macedonians running around the plains of prax at the moment....
Oh, and just as a point of interest, some Australian Aboriginal war
spears are absolutely terrifying barbed monstrosities. Probably not much
use on an actual battlefield, as chance of withdrawing to take on another
opponent is nil, but pretty scary.
Cheers
David
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