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RARE LARGE SOCKETED IRON ARROWHEAD FROM THE LATE CLASSIC ROMAN EMPIRE Germany LATE CLASSIC ROMAN PERIOD: 1st - 3rd CENTURY AD This iron arrowhead was made for and used by the Roman army of the Late Classic Period. It was a vital weapon to the protection of the boundaries of the Roman Empire as its peace was constantly being challenged by opposing barbarian tribes and armies. This Roman iron socketed arrowhead is an exceptional example with the rare presence of a well-preserved hollow socketed end. This type was intended to be fired by stationary archers providing supporting fire from the back line. The streamlined profile maintained velocity and impact force at great distances as massive barrages of these were rained down on an advancing enemy. This large arrowhead was used by long-distance archers to engage the enemy before their cavalry archers were in range. This artifact is intact and solid. Specimen has been conserved in our lab facility, subjected to proper cleaning and chemical treatment to ensure against further deterioration. NO RESTORATION, REPAIR OR MODERN DAMAGE. Unlike most metal artifacts sold on the market that are untreated and uncleaned, our specimens our cleaned, inspected and conserved in our museum conservation lab prior to being offered for sale to our clients. Every piece we offer is cleaned, stabilized and treated in our facility. If it were not treated properly, it likely would deteriorate into further corrosion and possibly disintegrate into pieces. All our artifacts are guaranteed for life to not further corrode in normal storage environments. The vast majority of sellers of metal artifacts do NOT PROPERLY clean and treat their specimens and many do nothing at all. If those artifacts are NOT treated and stabilized correctly, THEY WILL CONTINUE TO DISINTEGRATE AND CORRODE AND COULD EVENTUALLY FALL APART INTO PIECES. The Roman sagittarii or archers were either formed out of auxiliary units or were trained members of the Legion. Many Roman units of bowmen were originally recruited in the Middle East and in the Danubian provinces. Trajan's column shows these troops using distinctive native clothing and equipment including conical helmets, chain mail, long tunics and powerful composite bows fashioned of laminate wood and horn. A diverse variety of arrowheads were employed. Heavy tri-lobed projectile points were designed to penetrate armor with leaf-shaped points effective on "soft targets". Throughout the Near East arrows were normally secured to their shafts with a tang rather than a socket as in western Europe. In the "single use" situation of warfare, this method was just as effective and required less construction time and materials. Arrow shafts were usually constructed out of wood but cane was sometimes employed. Each archer carried an average of 30-40 arrows in their quiver. In addition to full sized arrows, Roman archers would also fire small arrows or darts down a channel called a solinarion. Such darts have about double the range of a full-sized arrow and are harder to see. They were used as harassing fire against approaching formations. While a dart would rarely cause fatal injury, striking a man or horse in the face or eye would be a serious discouragement and help to break up a formation. Archers were sometimes employed as skirmishers or deployed behind lines of heavy infantry to provide covering fire. The simultaneous storm of thousands of arrows raining down upon enemy troops must have been a nightmarish site! The opening battle scene of the film 'Gladiator' reenacts to exactness the visual horror and deadly effect the Roman archers had against enemies of the Empire! The Classic Roman Empire was a unique association of peoples and places such as the Mediterranean World had never seen before. What had been a patchwork of Hellenistic monarchies, independent city-states, and Celtic tribes was miraculously united into one great political entity. At its peak rule, the Roman Empire stretched from Spain to Syria and England to Egypt. Much of the success of the Empire can be attributed to the protection afforded by its near invincible war machine, the Roman army. Many tactics and weapons were first pioneered by this massive military force and just the thought of having to challenge this entity thwarted many a foreign enemy. Those that were brave (or foolish) enough to go up against Rome's military were quickly made examples of to the rest of the world. The technology and strength of the Roman military was the guardian of this great society in the West for some 500 years. Our modern world today benefits much from a host of technological innovations first given to us by the ancient Romans. From simple inventions such as blown glass and underground sewer systems to major concepts in engineering and the Roman calendar. EXCELLENT PRESERVATION SELDOM COMPLETE WITH INTACT HOLLOW SOCKETED END FROM THE DAYS OF CLASSIC ROME 3.9" in length SOLD R075 INCLUDES DISPLAY BOX Actual Item - One Only |
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