Casgliadau Arlein

Leaf-shaped spearhead with a wide median rib on both faces. The circular socket is pierced by a single rivet hole. The three spearheads (Fig 10.12 Nos 278-80) belong to the category commonly referred to as 'leaf-shaped', a rather general term which covers most Roman spearheads. Number 279 has a prominent mid-rib on both sides of the blade. Such a feature is not common on Roman spearheads. The closest parallels are from Cirencester (Webster 1958, Fig 4, No 39 1st century?) and Portchester (Cunliffe 1975, Fig 124, No 171, dating not earlier than the late 3rd century). One should bear in mind however that resemblances between two spearheads (especially if from different sites) are largely coincidental because of the random nature of the forging process, true standardisation was not possibly. It is very tempting, but dangerous, to date spearheads by their shape alone. The Segontium spearhead came from a Trajanic/Antonine deposit. More importantly for dating purposes, a stone slab from Segontium showing a figure thought to be the god Mars (see below p. 216) has a representative of a spearhead with a mid-rib. This is just like the example under discussion. The relief is dated to the 2nd or 3rd century and so does not conflict withthe proposed date for the spearhead. Condition: Tip missing.