FOLLOWING THE LEAD: PLUMBATAE IN SCYTHIA AND MOESIA SECUNDA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14795/jaha.13.1.2026.1405Keywords:
Plumbatae, lead-weighted darts, Scythia, Moesia Secunda, Diocese of ThraceAbstract
The lead-weighted darts (plumbatae or mattiobarbuli (martiobarbuli)) are some of the rarest archaeological finds among the elements of Late Roman military equipment. In recent years, however, the number of plumbatae discoveries has increased, particularly in the northern and north-eastern parts of the former Empire. In this regard, the territory of Moesia Secunda and even more so that of Scythia are still lacking sufficient published data.
This contribution presents a number of unpublished lead-weighted darts from the two provinces described in the context of the several discoveries known to date, thus supplementing our knowledge on their distribution in the larger zone of the dioceses of Thracia and Dacia. In addition, some comments are made on their possible places of manufacture within the region in question.
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