The Spear: From Prehistoric Tool to Weapon That Shaped Empires

TheCollector traces the evolution of the spear from a simple pointed stick used by hominins over a million years ago to a decisive weapon on ancient battlefields and beyond. The earliest hard evidence comes from stone spear tips at Kathu Pan, South Africa (c. 500,000 years ago) attributed to Homo heidelbergensis, and wooden spears from Schöningen, Germany (337,000–300,000 years ago). Neanderthals used thick thrusting spears with stone tips affixed by birch resin, while Homo sapiens developed longer throwing spears. The atlatl (spear thrower), invented at least 17,000 years ago, increased range and power. In the Bronze Age, metallurgy enabled mass production of bronze and iron spearheads. Greek hoplites wielded the dory (6.5–10 ft) in shield walls, later replaced by the Macedonian sarissa (16–23 ft) under Philip II and Alexander the Great. Roman legions used the pilum as a throwing spear. Medieval knights employed heavy lances with grapers and vamplates, while foot soldiers used pikes up to 18 ft to counter cavalry. The advent of gunpowder led to pike-and-shot formations and eventually the bayonet, which turned muskets into spears. The Zulu iklwa (short stabbing spear) proved effective in the 19th century. Today, bayonets remain ceremonial but are rarely used in combat.