Spearhead

A spear is a pole weapon consisting of a shaft, usually of wood, with a sharp head.

The head may be simply the sharpened end of the shaft itself, as is the case with bamboo spears, or it may be made of a more durable material fastened to the shaft, such as flint, obsidian, iron, steel or bronze. The commonest design is of a metal spearhead, shaped like a triangle, lozenge or leaf, with a built-in socket attachment.

Spear manufacture and use is not confined to human beings. It is also practised by the Pan troglodytes verus subspecies of the CommonChimpanzee. Chimpanzees near Kédougou, Senegal were observed to create spears by breaking straight limbs off trees, stripping them of their bark and side branches, and sharpening one end with their teeth. They then used the weapons to hunt galagog sleeping in hollows.