casting lead

[Treeman]

They were casting lead looong ago.
The sling, a prevalent projectile weapon in ancient warfare, gained a significant technological advancement in the 5th century BC with the introduction of lead bullets. These bullets, typically weighing around 50 grams, featured an aerodynamic almond shape, allowing them to be thrown with precision over distances exceeding 100 meters. The dense and soft nature of lead enhanced the bullet's impact, delivering devastating energy to targets and inflicting severe wounds.
The crafting of these projectiles involved molds designed to cast multiple bullets simultaneously. Such molds often included cavities for molten lead, small dowels for alignment, and a handle for ease of use. Remarkably, some molds bore inscriptions, like "ΤΙΜΩΝΟΣ" ("of Timon"), which might signify the individual overseeing production, the unit's commander, or even the ruling authority. This personalization highlights the importance of these weapons in military logistics and their connection to the hierarchy of command.
Artifacts such as these molds, preserved in institutions like the Kanellopoulos Museum in Athens, offer invaluable insights into the sophistication of ancient military technology and the logistical strategies employed to equip armies with effective weaponry. The lead sling bullet, with its lethal design and functionality, exemplifies the ingenuity and adaptability of ancient warfare..

471179623_564919503011691_2931359809718986742_n by David Frank Allen, on Flickr

[Tripodmvr]

New info for me. Always thought of bow and arrow, throwing spear or bladed instruments as war tools for those periods.

[oafpatroll]

New info for me. Always thought of bow and arrow, throwing spear or bladed instruments as war tools for those periods.

Google 'balearic slingers' for some interesting reading on how important a role was played by guys with ketties back then.

[Tripodmvr]

Very interesting and made me realise that I know diddly-squat about those wars. Ceaser, Nero, Hannibal etc are familiar from history at school, but not the detail of the wars.

[JamesNotBond]

Seeing this post reminds me of the post I read a day or two ago on Face Book. The post was in regard to the darts the Romans carried attached to their shields.
It would seem that the darts were more intended for the purpose of disruption, harassment than killing.
Plumbata
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.

[oafpatroll]

The sling was a weapon more than capable of lethal hits on humans at 100m and more. Numerous battles in antiquity hinged on the numbers of slingers that could be brought to bear.