Abstract
The weapon group from 'Ain es-Simiyeh consists of a fenestrated crescentic axehead, a simple notched axehead, two socketed spearheads, and a rilled dagger. These pieces were acquired from a Jerusalem antiquities dealer along with a considerable quantity of MB I material2 and a few MB IIA vessels. The bronze weapons will be discussed first, in ascending order of their significance for our knowledge of weapons of the period. The two socketed spearheads (fig. 1:2, 3; pl. 2) require little comment. Spearheads of this type have been previously recognized as belonging to the MB IIA period. The type may have begun earlier, however, as attested by scattered examples from Mesopotamia and Syria, as well as one occurrence at Megiddo in an EB IV-MB I context.3 Numerous MB IIA comparisons come from Syria.4 In Palestine socketed spearheads are known chiefly from MB IIA tomb deposits, in which they probably constitute evidence of warrior burials: Megiddo, Barqai (Sharon Plain), Beth-shan, Nahariyeh, Gibeon, Moza, Ris el-'Ain, and Tell el'Ajjfil.5 These socketed spears are conspicuously
Published Version
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