4th-5th century AD. A socketted javelin head with barbed head, tapering round-section shank and collar for the insertion into a wooden shaft. Cf. Scrinari, V.S.M., Sculture Romane di Aquileia, Roma, 1972; Ilkjaer, J., Illerup Adal - et arkaeologisk tyllespejl, Moesgard, 2000, see p. 42, for similar spearheads; Feugere, M., Weapons of the Romans, Stroud, 2002, for discussion; D’Amato, R., Pflaum, V., 'Two suites of lamellar armour from Kranj (Carnium), Slovenia, in the light of archaeological analogies, written sources and contemporary iconography in Acta Militaria Medievalia, 2019, XV, pp. 7-50, for discussion on barbed weapons in the late Roman army.119 grams, 22.5cm (8 3/4"). Property of a Sussex gentleman; before that from a UK private collection; acquired in 1994 from an auction house in Germany. Barbed weapons were in use by the Roman army from the 3rd century, and were considered an evolution of the old pilum by the military manuals. A sample of Late Roman legionary armed with barbed javelins is visible on the Aquileia stele of Aurelius Sudelecentius (Scrinari, 1972, n.351"). [No Reserve]