12-14-2016, 01:32 PM
I'm interested in hearing opinions about one of the dilemmas in identifying plumbatae. Some plumbatae have been found without a lead weight, with mainly the barbed heads leading to an identification of the spearhead as that of a plumbata. Of course, some barbed spearheads are just that - barbed spearheads. However, not all are, as some finds of single lead weights seem to indicate that there may be weightless plumbatae lying about. So how to distinguish the one from the other - if at all possible? I'm thinking many plumatae are misidentified as spearheads - and some vice versa.
The image below would cause me to think that, on the grounds of a very small socket which would not fit a spearshaft, that this might indicate it's a plumbata?
Btw the leaded version (clearly a plumbata) is from Vrhnika (186mm), the 'weightless' one is from Martinj Hrib near Loagatec, both from the Alpine region of Slovenia.
The image below would cause me to think that, on the grounds of a very small socket which would not fit a spearshaft, that this might indicate it's a plumbata?
Btw the leaded version (clearly a plumbata) is from Vrhnika (186mm), the 'weightless' one is from Martinj Hrib near Loagatec, both from the Alpine region of Slovenia.
Robert Vermaat
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FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)