DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49517#0249
BRONZE AND COPPER OBJECTS
187
6. K 338: 5. With two discs on each arm; 1., 10.1 cm.; width of flat ends, 1.1+ cm.; diam-
eter of wire, 0.3 cm.; Photo. A 2157, No. 25. With other toilet articles at
foot end of grave. Pl. 49, 1-25.
7. K 410: x. fPlain form; 1., 7.8 cm., width of flat end, 1.2 cm.; diameter of wire, 0.3 cm.;
Photo. A 2157, No. 27. Pl. 49, 1-27.
(6) Bracelets
Two pairs of copper bracelets were found, one in K X and the other in Cemetery K N.
These were made of simple heavy round wire bent into a circle until the two ends met.
The ends may have once been fused together, but have now parted. Such bracelets occur
in all periods of Egypt from the Middle Predynastic down, and present no evidence of date.
1. K 1061:14. Pair, diam., 6.9 cm.; thickness of wire, 6 mm.; Photo. A 927, No. 5. Found on
the left wrist of body C.
2. K N 35: 1. Pair, diam., 4.5 cm. and 4.7 cm.; thickness of wire, 3 mm. and 3.5 mm. Found
on the left forearm of a child (only body).
(7) Earrings or hair-rings
Earrings or hair-rings of copper plated with gold were found in five examples, two pairs
and an odd ring. They are described in Chapter XXIX, p. 280.
2. WEAPONS
Pl. 50
Although Kerma was a military colony, no metal weapon suitable for warfare was
found except the dagger. It is possible that the common soldiers were mercenary troops,
perhaps blacks, armed with spear and bow, and were not buried in our ceinetery. In addi-
tion to the bronze dagger, examples were found of the bronze harpoon and the wooden
throwstick; but the harpoon was for fishing and the throwstick for hunting birds and other
small game. Only one spear-head occurred, and that was with a girl in the Early Nubian
cemetery and was manifestly an ornamental or ceremonial weapon. The three classes of
bronze weapons, dagger, spear and harpoon, are described below, while the throwstick will
be described in the chapter on wood.
(1) Daggers
All but one of the daggers found in the Egyptian cemetery were of the same type —
that with a small grip and a long broad ivory butt (Type I). This type of dagger has long
been known from an example in the Berlin Museum (purchased from Passalaqua),1 said to
have come from a grave at Thebes and supposed to be of the New Kingdom. But no other
example from Egypt appears to be known, and the form is not among those represented
in the Middle Kingdom coffins. Daggers have been found in graves of the Predynastic
Period2 and of most other periods; but never in numbers nor with handles until the
Middle Kingdom. The most favored weapons of the Old Kingdom appear to have been
the spear, the battle axe, and the bow and arrows, all of which are frequently found in the
1 Erman, Life in Ancient Egypt, p. 460: also Wilkinson, Ancient Egyptians I, p. 212.
2 Reisner, Naga-’d-Der I, p. 116.
187
6. K 338: 5. With two discs on each arm; 1., 10.1 cm.; width of flat ends, 1.1+ cm.; diam-
eter of wire, 0.3 cm.; Photo. A 2157, No. 25. With other toilet articles at
foot end of grave. Pl. 49, 1-25.
7. K 410: x. fPlain form; 1., 7.8 cm., width of flat end, 1.2 cm.; diameter of wire, 0.3 cm.;
Photo. A 2157, No. 27. Pl. 49, 1-27.
(6) Bracelets
Two pairs of copper bracelets were found, one in K X and the other in Cemetery K N.
These were made of simple heavy round wire bent into a circle until the two ends met.
The ends may have once been fused together, but have now parted. Such bracelets occur
in all periods of Egypt from the Middle Predynastic down, and present no evidence of date.
1. K 1061:14. Pair, diam., 6.9 cm.; thickness of wire, 6 mm.; Photo. A 927, No. 5. Found on
the left wrist of body C.
2. K N 35: 1. Pair, diam., 4.5 cm. and 4.7 cm.; thickness of wire, 3 mm. and 3.5 mm. Found
on the left forearm of a child (only body).
(7) Earrings or hair-rings
Earrings or hair-rings of copper plated with gold were found in five examples, two pairs
and an odd ring. They are described in Chapter XXIX, p. 280.
2. WEAPONS
Pl. 50
Although Kerma was a military colony, no metal weapon suitable for warfare was
found except the dagger. It is possible that the common soldiers were mercenary troops,
perhaps blacks, armed with spear and bow, and were not buried in our ceinetery. In addi-
tion to the bronze dagger, examples were found of the bronze harpoon and the wooden
throwstick; but the harpoon was for fishing and the throwstick for hunting birds and other
small game. Only one spear-head occurred, and that was with a girl in the Early Nubian
cemetery and was manifestly an ornamental or ceremonial weapon. The three classes of
bronze weapons, dagger, spear and harpoon, are described below, while the throwstick will
be described in the chapter on wood.
(1) Daggers
All but one of the daggers found in the Egyptian cemetery were of the same type —
that with a small grip and a long broad ivory butt (Type I). This type of dagger has long
been known from an example in the Berlin Museum (purchased from Passalaqua),1 said to
have come from a grave at Thebes and supposed to be of the New Kingdom. But no other
example from Egypt appears to be known, and the form is not among those represented
in the Middle Kingdom coffins. Daggers have been found in graves of the Predynastic
Period2 and of most other periods; but never in numbers nor with handles until the
Middle Kingdom. The most favored weapons of the Old Kingdom appear to have been
the spear, the battle axe, and the bow and arrows, all of which are frequently found in the
1 Erman, Life in Ancient Egypt, p. 460: also Wilkinson, Ancient Egyptians I, p. 212.
2 Reisner, Naga-’d-Der I, p. 116.