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Predynastic Maceheads

An important early Egyptian weapon was the mace. It consisted of a heavy or sharp stone head attached to a wooden or ivory handle. Disc-shaped designs are typical of the Naqada I Period (c. 4000-3500 BC), pear-shaped designs becoming more common during Naqada II (c. 3500-3100 BC). Many of these examples are not large or heavy enough to have been used as weapons. They may instead have been symbolic copies made for tombs.

These are examples of pear-shaped maceheads. Left to Right;

Limestone, Pear-shaped Macehead (Acc. 2790)

This macehead measures 5x6.2cm, it was discovered in Hierakonpolis (Kom el-Ahmar), Upper Egypt, and has been dated to the Predynastic Period. It was donated to the Manchester Museum in 1898 by the Egyptian Research Account.

Long Pear-shaped Macehead (Acc. 9513)

This macehead has been identified in the register as black limestone. It measures 6.6x8.1cm and dates to the Predynastic Period. It was donated to the Manchester Museum in 1938 by Mrs Charles and Mrs. R. Powell.

Limestone Pear-shaped Machead (Acc. 2792)

This macehead measures 4.6x4.9cm. It is from the Predynastic Period, and was discovered in Hierakonpolis (Kom el-Ahmar), Upper Egypt. It was donated to the Manchester Museum in 1898 by the Egyptian Research Account.

Pear-shaped Stone Macehead (Acc. 2434)