Rights Holder: Birmingham Museums Trust
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Unique ID: HESH-C7A503
Object type certainty: Certain
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status: Published
A hand forged iron pilum (or throwing spear / bolt) of probable Roman date, 50 - 200 AD. The pilum is sub-rectangular in plan and varies in cross section; the shaft has an irregular circular section that expands to a regular square sectioned head that tapers to a blunt point. Much of the surface has been lost to laminating corrosion and the damage to the shaft is relatively old. The pilum head is best described as being a bolt with no signs of bladed edges or sharpened point. The point itself has been lost to laminating corrosion and is at present best described as being blunted; however, the very tip shiw signs that it has been hammered to form a point (with each of the four sides being turned at an angle of 45°). The point is now lost . The spearhead is a mid brown colour with an uneven laminated surface which has revealed a purple brown coloured metal. There is also evidence of active corrosion present in a light orange (rust) evident on exposed surfaces. The spearhead is actively corroding and the surface is unstable. This has resulted in the loss of metal and in time the piece will probably disintegrate - it is suggested that the artefact is stored in a dry atmosphere, using silica gel to maintain the environmental conditions. The identification and dating of iron pilum are difficult. The findspot, within a garden that falls within the defensive vallum of a Roman Mansio suggests that this is of genuine Roman date and the good preservation can be put down to the nature of the garden soil in the area. Similar pila can be seen in the British Museum (Mannings) Catalogue of Iron Tools, Fittings and Weapons. This example fits best with material dated to the mid 1st century from Hod Hill (V22-25, specifically V23). A longer date range is suggested for this example c. 50 - c. 200 AD
The pilum measures 152.2mm length, 15.1mm x 15.6mm across the base of the head and 12.3mm diameter across shaft. The shaft extends c. 50 mm below the head. The pilum weighs 137.1 grams
This is a find of note and has been designated: County / local importance
Class: Pilum
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: ROMAN
Period from: ROMAN
Date from: Circa AD 50
Date to: Circa AD 200
Quantity: 1
Length: 152.2 mm
Width: 15.1 mm
Thickness: 15.6 mm
Weight: 137.1 g
Diameter: 12.3 mm
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Other reference: Scheduled Monument 28: Roman station of Bravinium
Primary material: Iron
Manufacture method: Hand made
Completeness: Incomplete
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Manning, W.H. | 1976 | Catalogue of Romano-British Ironwork in the Museum of Antiquities, Newcastle-upon-Tyne | Newcastle | Department of Archaeology, University of Newcastle upon Tyne |