Plumbatae or martiobarbuli were lead -weighted darts carried by infantrymen in Antiquity and the Middle Ages. They were used to inflict damage on enemies at a distance before engaging in close combat.

The plumbata’s range of applications included open battles, storming and defending town walls, and even maritime engagements, where they were used to injure enemies. The earliest and most informative written source about the plumbata was composed between 390 and 450 AD.

Jan 26, 2022 · In order to harass an enemy from a distance, the Roman soldiers adopted a new weapon, called the plumbata. The plumbata was a type of war dart. This throwing weapon originated in Greece around 500 BC. Around 300 AD, it was massively adopted by the late Roman armies and later Eastern Roman armies.

Jun 7, 2021 · Plumbata. For such a simple weapon, the Roman war dart known as the plumbata has been misunderstood by researchers for decades. Consisting of a wooden shaft, a ball of lead, a point of iron, and feather fletching – its lack of complexity would seem to offer little resistance to a complete understanding of its attributes and capabilities.

Jul 14, 2024 · The plumbata, a type of weighted dart, played a crucial role in Roman military tactics. Known for its versatility and lethality, this weapon significantly enhanced the effectiveness of Roman legions on the battlefield.

Essentially an Iron dart head or spear head, with a lead weight attached to the anterior end. The result is a short dart which when mated with a short wooden shaft with feathers allowed a soldier to throw the dart either over hand or under hand.

Plumbatae or martiobarbuli were lead-weighted darts carried by infantrymen in Antiquity and the Middle Ages. The first examples seem to have been carried by the Ancient Greeks from about 500 B.C. onwards, but the best-known users were the late Roman and Byzantine armies.

Dec 9, 2023 · The plumbata, a type of weighted throwing dart, was one of the most effective missile weapons of the ancient world. While it was believed to have been used primarily to maim and harass the enemy, recent experiments suggest that there may have been a higher velocity, longer ranged version of the dart

Plumbata - Plural plumbatae. a projectile weapon used during the latter part of the Roman period – a fletched dart. They usually consisted of a barbed iron head with a lead weight fitted to a fletched wooden shaft. (See Figure 1)

The plumbatae, also known as martiobarbulus, were projectile weapons utilized by the late Roman army from the late 3rd century CE. This article discusses the origins, nomenclature, construction, and archaeological findings related to plumbatae.