Later Roman spear length

[Nicholas Gaukroger]

You take 7 hours as a reaction time? I just read your question! Hold your horses, will ya?

On this forum that's slow :twisted:

Actually, there's an article in the making about that...

I can give you a short answer - no actual finds from the Roman period exist.

The only physical remains come from the Danish Illerup Ǻdal and Nydam bog finds, which included three spear shafts. The Illerup examples measured between 2.23 m and 2.74m (app. 7-9 ft). The Nydam examples measured between 2.52 and 3.54m (app. 8-11 ft.).
Many of the weapons found there can be dated to the 3rd century, and many weapons seem to have originated in the Roman Empire (Stephenson 1999, 55; Stephenson 2006, 83; Ilkjaer 1989, 54-61, catalogue 1990).

Thanks. I have to say I'm slightly skeptical about these sorts of finds being attributed wholly to the Romans as it is, IMO, quite possible that whilst the metal parts were Roman that the wooden parts may have been local - either as made originally with a Roman spearpoint then attached or as a later replacement for breakage.

Oh, and whilst I'm at it, what's with this strange shoulder height spear position as (again) in the illustration in the Oct/Nov Ancient Warfare? Where did this come from?

You mean good old Lepontius? I convinced that his hasta, like that of many others, is limited in lenght only by the available space of his funeral monument. Shal we say it's 'Vertically Challenged'? :wink:

Ah, sorry I was unclear - I meant the illustration of Strasbourg in the latest Ancient Warfare. However, I recall, since you mention the book, that the strage (IMO) spear use position also comes from Stephenson's book - didn't really believe it would be (commonly) used when I read the book, and still don't.