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#61
Army Research / Re: Assyrian Infantry in Acha...
Last post by DBS - Apr 16, 2026, 08:06 PMI suppose, in terms of evidence, it may depend on how far north in Mesopotamia the "bowland" colonists were distributed. Of course, that also raises the question of whether "bowland" colonists necessarily fought as actual archers. However, if you are talking about having these chaps as Satrap forces, the inherited Babylonian colonist structure might be misleading anyway, as satrapal garrisons may have been more consciously developed to meet actual needs rather than preserve a semi-useful inherited system of owed service.
#62
Army Research / Assyrian Infantry in Achaemen...
Last post by Jim Webster - Apr 16, 2026, 07:31 PMI decided that my Achaemenid Persian Satrap would have to have some Assyrian infantry. Now I picked up some Lancashire Games Later Sargonid Assyrian infantry (It seemed rude to shun his Easter sale) who seemed the appropriate figures.
But the battle pack is half archers. And that started me thinking.
As far as I know, Xenophon talks about 'Assyrian heavy infantry from Comania' (I've not got the Greek so am not sure what word is actually used for heavy infantry)
Is there any mention of Assyrian archers used by the Persians. We know they raised archers from other peoples.
But the battle pack is half archers. And that started me thinking.
As far as I know, Xenophon talks about 'Assyrian heavy infantry from Comania' (I've not got the Greek so am not sure what word is actually used for heavy infantry)
Is there any mention of Assyrian archers used by the Persians. We know they raised archers from other peoples.
#63
Ships and Navies / Re: 134 shipwrecks identified ...
Last post by Ian61 - Apr 16, 2026, 01:23 PMQuote from: DBS on Apr 16, 2026, 09:35 AMI am sure there were many more wrecks, just the odds of survival and detection lengthen the further one goes back in time. Also, I would note that said wreck is described as Punic-era, rather than Punic, so may not necessarily have been Phoenician or Carthaginian, as opposed to a cheeky Greek or Etruscan nipping into the Punic co-prosperity sphere...
Good points.
#64
Ships and Navies / Re: 134 shipwrecks identified ...
Last post by DBS - Apr 16, 2026, 09:35 AMI am sure there were many more wrecks, just the odds of survival and detection lengthen the further one goes back in time. Also, I would note that said wreck is described as Punic-era, rather than Punic, so may not necessarily have been Phoenician or Carthaginian, as opposed to a cheeky Greek or Etruscan nipping into the Punic co-prosperity sphere...
#65
Ships and Navies / Re: 134 shipwrecks identified ...
Last post by Ian61 - Apr 16, 2026, 07:18 AMActually surprised only the one Punic era wreck, the Phoecians were regularly going through the straights on the way to Cadiz from the 8th century BCE. There again they were good sailors and perhaps kept the the southern side.
#66
Ships and Navies / Re: 134 shipwrecks identified ...
Last post by Imperial Dave - Apr 16, 2026, 06:33 AMThat's a fair few...
#67
Ships and Navies / 134 shipwrecks identified in B...
Last post by DBS - Apr 16, 2026, 06:26 AMhttps://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/apr/15/hidden-treasures-spanish-archaeologists-discover-trove-of-ancient-shipwrecks-in-bay-of-gibraltar
As one might imagine, cover about 2400 years' worth of navigational loss, including, apparently, a 5th century BC wreck and several Roman/Byzantine period vessels.
Will be interesting if an English language write-up materialises in due course.
As one might imagine, cover about 2400 years' worth of navigational loss, including, apparently, a 5th century BC wreck and several Roman/Byzantine period vessels.
Will be interesting if an English language write-up materialises in due course.
#68
Ancient and Medieval History / Anglo Saxon Woden Ring to go o...
Last post by Imperial Dave - Apr 15, 2026, 05:25 PMhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx24p715gqro
Ill admit when I first saw the headline I had subconsciously added another o
Ill admit when I first saw the headline I had subconsciously added another o
#69
Weapons and Tactics / Re: A sword or dagger
Last post by Ian61 - Apr 14, 2026, 09:38 PMIsn't that a wonderful description, standards of clarity in English have slipped. 
I do chuckle though, that even over a hundred years ago there was a need to ascribe a local uniqueness to objects. Objects always seem to be described in some way to make it clear the the locals that this is something they need to take notice of with a phrase like 'only one of its type found in #######' or equivalent. It always makes me think 'yes but they found a shed load exactly the same at @@@@@@@ a few miles away', what a cynic I am.
I do chuckle though, that even over a hundred years ago there was a need to ascribe a local uniqueness to objects. Objects always seem to be described in some way to make it clear the the locals that this is something they need to take notice of with a phrase like 'only one of its type found in #######' or equivalent. It always makes me think 'yes but they found a shed load exactly the same at @@@@@@@ a few miles away', what a cynic I am.
#70
Weapons and Tactics / A sword or dagger
Last post by Jim Webster - Apr 14, 2026, 09:01 PMOnce upon a time, when I was a kid, I was told that a sword had been found on our land, and actually I saw it once. I cannot remember now whether it was in Lancaster or Preston Museums.
Anyway I had ten minutes and did a google search and found this. (There is no link from this farm to the spear head)
Art. III.—Bronze Age Relics from Furness. By H. S.
Cowper, F.S.A.
Read at Penrith, September 13th, 1906.
TRANSACTIONS
OF THE
CUMBERLAND & WESTMORLAND
ANTIQUARIAN & ARCHAEOLOGICAL
SOCIETY.
(FOUNDED 1866.)
VOLUME VII.—NEW SERIES.
THE objects described, I obtained last year at the sale of the collection of local and other curiosities formed by the late Mr. William Hodgson, cabinet maker, of Buxton Place, Ulverston, in whose possession I had known them a considerable time. Since there is fair ground for believing all three to be local finds, they merit record in our pages. The bronze dagger, shewn in Fig. i, was found many years ago at Page Bank near Rampside, Aldingham, though no account appears to have been preserved as to the circumstances in which it was found. It is 14 inches long, the greatest width (near the rivet holes) is 2 inches, and at six inches from the point 1 inches. There are two rivet-holes for attaching the handle, and one of the rivets was still in its place until about the time of the sale, when it was lost: and from four to five inches from this end there are, on both cutting edges, some ancient notches, probably made by blows against the edge of another blade in combat. The dagger is similar in type to Fig. 315 of Evans' Ancient Bronze Implements (1881), and is, I believe, the only example of this class hitherto found in Furness. Fig. 2 is a fine bronze spear-head, measuring 10 inches in length, and 3 inches in its greatest width. The general shape can be seen from the illustration, a notice able feature being that the midrib, which is continued to the point, is brought to a sharp ridge, so that at the section it is nearly square. On either side of the midrib is a depression or hollow. The cavity for the shaft is 5 inches long ; the edges are jagged from wear and use in ancient times, and the loops are at the base of the blade and connecting it with the socket. This fine spear-head has been much cleaned. Mr. Hodgson, whose information was generally very reliable, assured me it was a local find. In general shape it may be compared with the example from Dalton Castle, figured in our Transactions, N.S., vol. v., p. 183, also in my possession, which, however, is much smaller ; also with Fig. 407 in Evans' work, from Norfolk ; and the Scottish example in the Catalogue of the Museum of Antiquities of Scotland (1892, D.G. 40, p. 139).
I'm not sure of a date but 'old' probably sums it up
You cannot view this attachment.
Anyway I had ten minutes and did a google search and found this. (There is no link from this farm to the spear head)
Art. III.—Bronze Age Relics from Furness. By H. S.
Cowper, F.S.A.
Read at Penrith, September 13th, 1906.
TRANSACTIONS
OF THE
CUMBERLAND & WESTMORLAND
ANTIQUARIAN & ARCHAEOLOGICAL
SOCIETY.
(FOUNDED 1866.)
VOLUME VII.—NEW SERIES.
THE objects described, I obtained last year at the sale of the collection of local and other curiosities formed by the late Mr. William Hodgson, cabinet maker, of Buxton Place, Ulverston, in whose possession I had known them a considerable time. Since there is fair ground for believing all three to be local finds, they merit record in our pages. The bronze dagger, shewn in Fig. i, was found many years ago at Page Bank near Rampside, Aldingham, though no account appears to have been preserved as to the circumstances in which it was found. It is 14 inches long, the greatest width (near the rivet holes) is 2 inches, and at six inches from the point 1 inches. There are two rivet-holes for attaching the handle, and one of the rivets was still in its place until about the time of the sale, when it was lost: and from four to five inches from this end there are, on both cutting edges, some ancient notches, probably made by blows against the edge of another blade in combat. The dagger is similar in type to Fig. 315 of Evans' Ancient Bronze Implements (1881), and is, I believe, the only example of this class hitherto found in Furness. Fig. 2 is a fine bronze spear-head, measuring 10 inches in length, and 3 inches in its greatest width. The general shape can be seen from the illustration, a notice able feature being that the midrib, which is continued to the point, is brought to a sharp ridge, so that at the section it is nearly square. On either side of the midrib is a depression or hollow. The cavity for the shaft is 5 inches long ; the edges are jagged from wear and use in ancient times, and the loops are at the base of the blade and connecting it with the socket. This fine spear-head has been much cleaned. Mr. Hodgson, whose information was generally very reliable, assured me it was a local find. In general shape it may be compared with the example from Dalton Castle, figured in our Transactions, N.S., vol. v., p. 183, also in my possession, which, however, is much smaller ; also with Fig. 407 in Evans' work, from Norfolk ; and the Scottish example in the Catalogue of the Museum of Antiquities of Scotland (1892, D.G. 40, p. 139).
I'm not sure of a date but 'old' probably sums it up
You cannot view this attachment.