4th-5th century A.D.. The barbed head with tapering cylindrical stem and biconical lead weight; socket to the reverse. Cf. Southern, P. & Dixon, K.R., The Late Roman Army, London, 1996, fig.46, pp.113-115. 95 grams, 13.4 cm (5 1/4 in.).

The lead-weighted darts known as plumbatae mamillatae (or 'breasted javelin') were short darts mounted upon a shaft of the same shape, and thrown from a short distance. A Roman soldier would typically carry around 5-6 of these darts at any one time, fastened to the back of his shield. They could be thrown overhand or underhand, with an effective throwing range of up to 60 metres by trained soldiers.

Ex B. Posey collection, UK, 1990s.