Biconical Lead Slingshot

Object/Artifact

-

Trimontium Museum

Name/Title

Biconical Lead Slingshot

Entry/Object ID

X.2009.12.255

Description

Biconical lead slingshot, Roman, Newstead (Trimontium), Roxburghshire. A biconical lead slingshot, cast-lead, shaped like an almond or a rugby football, its aerodynamic, dense design made it a deadly projectile.

Use

Used as a projectile weapon by highly trained soldiers, at distance with accuracy.

Context

Part of a collection of fieldwalking finds made by Walter Elliot. Collected 2003-2004. F. Hunter note, 2013-10-30: Roman.

Collection

National Museums Scotland, Walter Elliot Collection

Category

Military Equipment & Weaponry, Slingshot

Acquisition

Accession

X.2009.12.255

Source (if not Accessioned)

National Museums Scotland

Notes

Loan - L.2021.36

Ethnography

Cultural Region

Continent

Europe

Culture/Tribe

Romano British

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Sling

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Percussive Weapons

Nomenclature Class

Armaments

Nomenclature Category

Category 05: Tools & Equipment for Science & Technology

Getty AAT

Concept

slingshots

Other Names

Name Type

Previous Accesssion Number

Other Name

X.FRA 5790

Name Type

Archaeology Number

Other Name

Archaeological Daybook 2001/65/1

Name Type

Treasure Trove (TT) Number

Other Name

Archaelology Treasure Trove 2000/11

Dimensions

Width

22.1 mm

Length

30.5 mm

Weight

62.5 g

Material

Lead

Color

White

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Walter Elliot

Notes

Finder

Web Links and URLs

X.2009.12.255 Slingshot - National Museums Scotland, Canmore Site Record (Newstead)

Provenance

Provenance Detail

Found

Notes

Fieldwalking

Exhibition

Permanent Exhibition

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Exhibition Caption

Label

Roman artillery was sophisticated. Missiles came in many forms. They were slung by hand, shot by bows or propelled by a ballista, the mechanical equivalent of a catapult. What would it have been like to be on the receiving end of a blizzard of missiles?