Casgliadau Arlein

Long barbed point and oval-sectioned shank which expands towards the end and passes through a barrel-shaped lead weight which is faceted leaving a scalloped effect.

Examples of the type of weapon known as the plumbata or martiobarbulus. The literary references to plumbatae belong to the last quarter of the 3rd century AD and later. The Segontium plumbatae were found in a late 4th century context and are therefore in agreement with the literary evidence. Leading weighted darts are discussed in the work of Vegetius (Epitoma rei militaris I, 17; II,15; IV,29) and in the De rebus bellicis (X-XI), where they are also illustrated. Another reference occurs in the little-known military handbook by Modestus apparently addressed to the emperor Tacitus in AD 275 (Baudement 1851). It was probably from this source that Vegetius derived his information. These sources make it clear that plumbatae were fairly short weapons; Vegetius says that five darts were carried in the hollow of the shield. They had weights to aid penetration and were equipped with flights. Modern replicas of plumbatae of 2 to 3 feet length have been thrown distances of 70-80 yards, by untrained experimenters. These replicas were equipped with throwing thongs to increase propulsive power (Musty and Barder 1974, 275-7; Eagle 1989, 247-53).
Examples of javelins with barbed heads and lead weights have been found at several sites, both in Britain and on the Continent. These can readily be identified as the plumbatae of the classical texts.Lead-weighted spears have beeen found at Burgh Castle (Sherlock 1979, 101), Catterick (Wacher 1971, Fig 26, Nos 4-5), Doncaster (Buckland and Magilton 1972, 275). Richborough (Buche-Fox 1949, 152, Plate LIX, Nos 295-6) and Wroxeter (Barker 1979, 97ff). Abroad, they have been discovered at Furfooz (letter from G Boon in Current Archaeology 26, May 1971, 85), Lauriacum (von Groller 1908, Fig 42, No 3) and Weissenburg (Sherlock 1979, 101). An unpublished example is known from Lentia in Noricum (Linz in modern Austria), and there is a further example in Wiesbaden museum (pers comm JC Coulston). Few of these finds can be closely dated, but none seem earlier than the 3rd and some could date as late as the 5th century. Vegetius states that plumbatae were in use in the reign of Diocletian and Maximian by two crack legions. I Iovia and I Herculea. However, it is clear from the contexts of many of the finds - including those from Segontium - that other types of troops also used these weapons. [Allason-Jones, L. 1993 ‘Small Finds’ in Casey, P.J., Davies, J.L. with Evans, J. 1993 Excavations at Segontium (Caernarfon) Roman Fort, 1975-1979 CBA Research Report 90 (London) p.189]