Overview

A spear is a long-shafted pole weapon whose primary purpose is to strike or penetrate a target by thrusting. As an early and widespread tool it served both in hunting and in combat. Simple spears consist of a wooden shaft fitted with a sharpened tip of stone, bone, bronze, iron or steel; later examples use socketed or tang-mounted metal heads. The spear is often called a weapon in general treatments of military history and archaeology.

Design and common types

Spears vary by length, weight, tip shape and intended use. Some kinds are light and balanced for throwing, while others are stout for hand-to-hand thrusting. Common variants include:

  • Thrusting spears: designed for stabbing at close quarters, with stiff shafts and pointed heads.
  • Throwing spears or javelins: lighter and shorter to permit repeated throws and greater range.
  • Polearms like pikes: very long infantry weapons used to keep cavalry at bay.
  • Special cavalry spears such as lances: reinforced for shock employment from horseback.

History and development

Archaeological finds and surviving accounts show spears in use from prehistoric times through the Antiquity and the Middle Ages. Their forms evolved with available materials and tactical needs: stone points gave way to bronze and then iron and steel, and shaft construction improved for balance and durability. Civilizations across continents adapted the basic idea to local conditions, producing a wide array of regional types.

Uses and battlefield tactics

Spears have been central to many formations and tactics. Infantry could fight in tight ranks with overlapping spear points; light troops used throwing spears to harass; mounted forces used longer, sturdier spears to charge. The mounted spear specialized into the lance, famously employed by medieval knights for shock attacks. Conversely, very long spears called pikes were wielded by infantry to defend against cavalry and to create dense defensive arrays.

Beyond warfare, spears have continued roles in hunting, ritual and sport: modern athletics keeps alive the throwing discipline as the javelin. Distinctions between spear, javelin, lance and pike are primarily about length, weight and intended mode of use—thrust, throw or charge. Because of its simplicity and effectiveness, the spear remains one of the most enduring personal tools in human history.