Project

The last twenty years have seen renewed interest in prehistoric warfare. Wounds and weapon marks visible on ancient skeletons have been examined, and use of prehistoric weapons has been reassessed using modern martial art techniques. Championing a different approach, our project seeks to investigate the macro- and microscopic marks left on swords, spear-heads and shields in Bronze Age combat encounters. The aim is to understand how these weapons were used, in what kind of combat situations, and with what weapon strikes and body motions.

The problem is being investigated through a series of controlled combat experiments using custom-made replicas of Late Bronze Age weapons including swords, spears (with long and short shafts), and axes. All weapons were cast by traditional bronze smith Neil Burridge (Bronze Age Craft) using a 12% tin alloy and their edges were work-hardened and sharpened to a razor finish. A rigorous experimental protocol was devised for testing these weapons on replica shields made from beaten bronze, alder wood, and tanned leather, and also on other weapons. The tests successfully replicated some of the marks visible on archaeological weapons. This has enabled us to reconstruct specific sword and spear strikes and understand how different weapons may have been used against each other in prehistoric combat encounters.