Controversy about three-leaf arrowheads from Lithuania

[TITVS SABATINVS AQVILIVS]

[url:2z5i2xgd]http://www.leidykla.eu/fileadmin/Archeologia/7/Anna_Bitner-Wroblewska__Bartosz_Kontny.pdf[/url]

Valete,

[Quadratus]

Interesting paper - thanks Daniele.

Three leaf arrow heads must have been very much more difficult to make than two leaf or leaf- and barbless bodkins, so their wide distribution suggests a specific function or advantage.

As far as I know, the two main functions for an arrow head are cutting, primarily to cause haemorrhage, and penetrating. I can see how both would be marginally improved by having more blade length to cut and a more rigid point to penetrate, but no other archery tradition made wholesale use of trifoliate points.

Anyone know whether there was a particular reason for these points at this time and place, or got any other observations?

[TITVS SABATINVS AQVILIVS]

Found this:



"RARE TRI-LOBED ARMOR PIERCING ROMAN BYZANTINE IRON ARROWHEAD

Danube River Valley, Balkan Region

MIDDLE BYZANTINE PERIOD: 6th - 11th CENTURY AD

This iron arrowhead was made for and used by the Byzantine Christian Roman armies defending the Empire's northern border along the Danube River in the present day Balkans. It was a classic and important weapon of the Byzantine Christian Period of the Romans as this region was the northern-most boundary of the Roman Empire for most of its duration and evolution into Byzantium right up until 1336 AD when the area fell under Ottoman rule. In the Balkans, Roman camps and fortresses along the Danube were constantly being challenged by opposing tribes and armies. The river served as a natural barrier against attacks from the north. Collected from a region that was once occupied by the Byzantine Roman military as they fought against the challengers of the Christian Roman Empire, this arrowhead was utilized by Roman soldiers in one of the many violent and frequent battles that took place in defense of Byzantium.

Authentic Roman Byzantine Empire weapons of guaranteed provenance are historically important and fascinating. Rarely are they identified correctly and usually when sold, are of inferior preservation if iron.

This Roman iron tanged arrowhead is an uncommon type. It is a large tri-lobed design and was intended to pierce enemy armor. Heavy weighted nose enabled forward momentum in piercing leather and light metal armor. Heavy tri-lobed projectile points were designed to penetrate armor with leaf-shaped points effective on "soft targets". "


Found loads of tri-lobed arrowheads in these eurasian burials too:

[url:3r8jg1tk]http://www.csen.org/BAR%20Book/03%20Part%202.%20Excavations.pdf[/url]

[url:3r8jg1tk]http://www.csen.org/BAR%20Book/04%20Part%203.%20Bronze.Int.pdf[/url]

Vale,

[Robert Vermaat]

Hmmm, interesting. Thanks Daniele.