Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T04:44:18.416Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Lead Sling-Shot from Windridge Farm, St Albans and the use of the Sling by the Roman Army in Britain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 November 2011

S.J. Greep
S.J. Greep
Affiliation:
Verulamium Museum, St Albans.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

Windridge Farm lies approximately three-quarters of a mile to the south east of the Roman town of Verulamium (FIG. I) and about 400 yards from the eastern edge of Prae Wood. The finds of lead which form the subject of this paper were recovered over a number of years by several individuals with metal detectors and it is no longer possible to identify precisely and with confidence their exact find-spots. Certainly their distribution is fairly localised, the principal area of their recovery being centred on TL 124060. Sixty four lead objects have been recorded from the area and at least 50 more are thought to have been recovered. Thirty-seven are now in the possession of the Verulamium Museum (Accession Numbers SABMS 79.2960; 82.571–2; 84.1–25, 644–5, 1421–6,1435). The finders reported that the lead objects were found in small groups rather than individually, though no large hoards have been discovered. Although the area was field-walked by the local archaeological society, no further lead finds were recorded.

Type
Articles
Information
Britannia , Volume 18 , November 1987 , pp. 183 - 200
Copyright
Copyright © S.J. Greep 1987. Exclusive Licence to Publish: The Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 R.E.M., and Wheeler, T.V., Verulamium: A Belgie and Two Roman Cities Rep. Res. Comra. Soc. Antiq. xi (Oxford, 1936), pl. CXVIII.Google Scholar

2 The exact number of lead sling-shot found at Windridge Farm is uncertain. Fifty-six examples have been examined personally.

3 The directness of this association is not always clear however. At Charterhouse, for example, the shot are recorded simply as coming from the ‘Roman lead-workings, Charterhouse on Mendip’ and not necessarily from the fort known to exist there (Webster, G., The Roman Invasion of Britain (London, 1980), 120–1CrossRefGoogle Scholar and 192 fn. 107 with references); at Vindolanda the shot were recovered from the vicus and not the main fort area (inf. Mrs P. Birley).

4 S.J. Greep and C. Saunders, ‘Late Iron Age and Roman Objects from Windridge Farm, St Albans’, forthcoming in Herts. Arch.

5 For example coins recorded from the area run throughout the Roman era, Cf. op. cit. (note 4).

6 Christianson, D., Barbour, I. and Anderson, J., PSAS ix (1898/1899), 198–249, esp. 213–8 and 246.Google ScholarJobey, G., Trans. Dumfries and Galloway Nat. Hist. Arch. Soc. liii (1977/1978), 57–104Google Scholar, p. 87–9 and fn. 29.

7 Jobey, op. cit. (note 6).

8 Forster, R.H., Knowles, W.H., et al., Arch. Ael.3 vii (1911), 143–267, esp. 191.Google Scholar

10 Information Mrs P. Birley.

11 op. cit. (note 6), 87 and Tylecote, R.F., Metallurgy in Archaeology (London, 1962), 100–101.Google Scholar

12 op. cit. (note 6), 87.

13 e.g. Frere, S.S., Verulamium Excavations, Vol. I Res. Rep. Soc. Antiq. xxviii (Oxford, 1972), 160 with further references.Google Scholar

14 e.g. Crummy, N., The Roman Small Finds from Excavations in Colchester, 1971–9 Colchester Arch. Rep. 2 (Colchester, 1983), fig. 105, 2510Google Scholar; Bennett, P., Frere, S.S. and Stow, S., Excavations at Canterbury Castle The Archaeology of Canterbury Vol. 1 (Maidstone, 1982), fig. 93, 76Google Scholar; Allason-Jones, L. and Miket, R., The Catalogue of Small Finds from South Shields Roman Fort (Newcastle, 1984), 329, 8. 44–48Google Scholar; Webster, J. in Jarrett, M.G. and Wrathmell, S., Whitton: An Iron Age and Roman Farmstead in South Glamorgan (Cardiff, 1981)Google Scholar, fig. 78, 2 providing a larger (250 gms) but good parallel for one of the Windridge Farm weights (FIG. 6.1) though from unstratified contexts.

15 H. Waugh and R. Goodburn in Frere, op. cit. (note 13), fig. 37, 92.

16 Museum, British, A Guide to the Exhibition Illustrating Greek and Roman Life (London, 1908), 99–100.Google Scholar

17 Xenophon, Anabasis, III 3, 16 and 18.

18 Xenophon, Anabasis, III 4, 16.

19 e.g. Lucan Pharsalia, III, 710-714.

20 e.g. Ovid Metamorphoses II, 727-729.

21 Caesar, de Bello Gallico, V, 43.

22 e.g. Robinson, D.M., Excavations at Olynthus, Part xi, Metal and Minor Miscellaneous Finds. An Original Contribution to Greek Life (London, 1941), 418–443 and pl. CXXX-CXXXIV.Google Scholar

23 idem.

24 During the Spanish War one of Pompey's men threw a shot inscribed ‘On the day when you approach the town to take it I shall lay down my shield’ (Caesar, de Bello Hispaniensi, 13) and information regarding the defence of Lacuna was also delivered to Caesar on a shot (Caesar, de Bello Hispaniensi, 18).

25 e.g. at Asculum where a bolt used in the social war of 90–88 B.C. is inscribed T. LAF (renius) PR(aetor) on one side and ITALI on the other CIL, ix, 6086, i.

26 As on a bolt used against Caesar by Pompey inscribed CN MAG. CIL ii, 4965.

27 e.g. Fabricivs Fecit, C., CIL i, 711Google Scholar; and on a bolt from Asculum LEG XI, CIL ix, 6086, xxi.

28 On Latin inscriptions on lead shot Cf. Zangemeister, C. (ed.), Latinae Inscriptae. Ephemeris Epigraphica Vol VI: Glandes Plumbeae (Rome, 1885).Google Scholar

29 e.g. Caesar, de Bello Africo 20.

30 Following Haverfield, F.J., Antiquary xxxv (1899), 71–2.Google Scholar

31 Vegetius, , De re militari, e.g. I, 15–16Google Scholar; II, 23.

32 ‘It was then that he came into extreme peril by a fall from his horse; he was believed to have died from a lead ball, and the army was on the point of choosing another man as emperor’ (S.H.A. Severus, 11, 2).

33 Watson, G.R., The Roman Soldier (London, 1969), 61.Google Scholar

34 Zangemeister, op. cit. (note 28), 13.

35 Simonetti, C., Führer durch das Vindonissa Museum (Brugg, 1947), 18 and abb. 5.Google Scholar

36 von Schnurbein, S., Die Römer in Haltern (Munster, 1979)Google Scholar, Bild 26.

37 Hübener, W., Die römischen Metallfunde von Augsburg-Oberhausen. Materialhefte zur Bayerischen Vorge schichte 28 (1973), Taf. 22, 30.Google Scholar

38 op. cit. (note 35).

39 Jobey, op. cit. (note 6), 89.

40 Inf. Mrs P. Birley.

41 op. cit. (note 6).

42 Robertson, A.S., Birrens (Blatobulgium) (Edinburgh, 1975), fig. 44, 4–6.Google Scholar

43 Lucati, Pharsalia, III, 710.

44 Vegetius, , De re militari, I, 16Google Scholar; Strabo, Geography iii, 168.

45 Livy, XXXVIII, xxix, 3-8.

46 Strabo, op. cit. (note 44).

47 Lucan, Pharsalia, vi, 200.

48 Watson, op. cit. (note 33), 60.

49 Cf. Hadrians adlocutio to the army in Africa (ILS 2487).

50 Vegetius, De re militari, II, 23.

51 Richmond, I.A., Trajan's Army on Trajan's Column (London, 1982), 18Google Scholar and pl. 4 Cf. also Connolly, P.Greece and Rome at War (London, 1981), 309Google Scholar for a reconstruction based on Trajan's Column.

52 Richmond, op. cit. (note 51), pl. 16.

53 e.g. Caesar, de Bello Gallico II, 7, 10, 19, 24; VIII, 40.

54 Caesar, de Bello Gallico IV, 25.

55 e.g. Caesar, de Bello Civili III, 46; III, 4.

56 Caesar, de Bello Alexandrino 31, 3.

57 Josephus, Jewish Wars IV, 12.

58 Caesar, de Bello Africo 27.

59 ibid., 27 and 83.

60 e.g. Lucan, Pharsalia VI, 199-200.

61 Richmond, op. cit. (note 52).

62 Richmond, op. cit. (note 51).

63 e.g. Caesar, de Bello Civili I, 27; de Bello Gallico VII, 81.

64 e.g. Caesar, de Bello Africo 83; de Bello Civili, III, 88.

65 e.g. Caesar, de Bello Civili I, 83.

66 Hogg, R., Hillforts of Britain (London, 1975), 51.Google Scholar

67 Wheeler, R.E.M., Maiden Castle Rep. Res. Comm. Soc. Antiq. xii (Oxford, 1943), 48–51.Google Scholar

68 Hogg, op. cit. (note 66), 51.

69 Cunliffe, B., Iron Age Communities in Britain (London, 1974), 262.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

70 Richmond, I.A., Hod Hill, Volume II. Excavations Carried Out Between 1951 and 1958 (London, 1968), 21.Google Scholar

71 Bulleid, A. and Gray, H.St.G., The Glastonbury Lake Village, Vol II (Glastonbury, 1917), 562–567.Google Scholar

72 Gray, H.St.G. and Bulleid, A., The Meare Lake Village, Vol II (Taunton, 1953), 272.Google Scholar

73 Wheeler, op. cit. (note 67), pl. XXXII, B.

74 Alcock, L., By South Cadbury is that Camelot. Excavations at Cadbury Castle 1966–70 (London, 1972), 154 and pl. 59.Google Scholar

75 op. cit. (note 53). During his initial campaign in 55 B.C. slingers were used to drive the Britons from the beaches.

76 op. cit. (note 53).

77 A burial from Dyrham Park Estate, Gloucestershire is claimed to be that of a slinger on the basis of the shape of the humerus. Cf. Fawcett, E., Proc. Univ. Bristol Spelaeological Soc. IV pt. i (1935), 262–3Google Scholar. I am grateful to Mr G.C. Boon for this reference.

78 e.g. at York Cf. Britannia iii (1972), 310.

79 Evidence from eastern areas of the Empire is sparse, probably due to lack of publication. Type One lead shot are known, for example, at Split and Siscia in Yugoslavia, Cf. Guide to the Archaeological Museum at Split (Split, 1973), 39 and W. Leitner, Römische Kleinfunde aus Siscia. Arheološki Vestnik, xxxv (1984), Taf. 9, 2–3.

80 Jobey, op. cit. (note 6), 89.

81 Cf. Britannia xv (1984), 274. On the German limes there are Flavian or later examples from Zugmantel (ORL Bii, I Nr. 8 p. 172 no. 7) and Pforring on the Raetian limes (Maier, R.A.Germania lvii (1979), 166–168).Google Scholar The shot from Lambaesis are probably of late Roman date.

82 e.g. at Vindolanda Cf. Appendix I.

83 Munro, R., Ant. Journ. xviii (1901), 371–386Google Scholar, esp. 372–3 Anderson, J., PSAS xxxii (1898), 453–71Google Scholar, esp.

84 op. cit. (note 81).

85 Bailie-Reynolds, P.K., Arch. Camb. lxxxv (1930), 74–105, fig. 4.Google Scholar

86 Cf. Britannia ii (1971), 246.

87 Curie, J., Newstead: A Roman Frontier Post and its People. (Glasgow, 1911), 56.Google Scholar

88 Jobey, op. cit. (note 6), 87.

89 Hadrian's adlocutio (Cf. note. 49) however suggests that cavalry units might also be trained in the use of the sling.

90 Nash-Williams, V.E., Arch. Camb. lxxxiv (1929), 280–353, fig. 18, 15.Google Scholar

91 Inf. Dr G. Lloyd-Morgan.

92 op. cit. (note 78).

93 e.g. Leech, R., Excavation at Catsgore 1970–1973. A Romano-British Village (Bristol, 1982), fig. in, 3.Google Scholar