spears

A spear is a pole weapon with a long shaft and a pointed head designed for thrusting or throwing. The head is typically metal or sharpened stone, attached to a wooden shaft by a tang or socket. Spear designs vary in length and balance, with throwing spears generally lighter and shorter than those used for thrusting in combat.

Spears have one of the longest recorded histories of any weapon, dating to the late Stone Age. Early spears featured hafted stone points on wooden shafts and were used for hunting as well as fighting. In the Bronze and Iron Ages, metal spearheads improved effectiveness, and spears became a staple of infantry across many cultures. In classical antiquity, the spear played a central role in formations such as the Greek phalanx with the dory and the Roman legion with the hasta. Later, longer pikes and spears were employed in tightly packed formations, while cavalry relied on longer lances and shorter spears for shock action. Diverse cultures developed distinctive variants, including short thrusting spears, long throwing javelins, and ceremonial or ritual spear forms.

Types and uses vary by purpose. A thrusting spear is optimized for driving into targets with force and control, while a throwing spear (javelin) is designed for accuracy over distance. The lance is a form favored by mounted troops, and the pike is an especially long spear used to counter advance by infantry. Spearheads are commonly made of iron or steel, attached to timber shafts, and some examples feature reinforced sockets, ash or hickory shafts, and protective bindings.

In modern times, spears persist in sport, martial arts, and ceremonial contexts. The javelin throw remains an Olympic event, while many reenactment groups and traditional schools practice spear forms and demonstrations.