Lead Sling-Shot from Windridge Farm, St Albans and the use of the Sling by the Roman Army in Britain

INDRIDGE Farm lies approximately three-quarters of a mile to the south east of the Roman town of Verulamium (FIG. I) and about 400oo yards from the eastern edge of Prae Wood.1 The finds of lead which form the subject of this paper were recovered over a number of years by several individuals with metal detectors and it is no longer possible to identify precisely and with confidence their exact find-spots. Certainly their distribution is fairly localised, the principal area of their recovery being centred on TL 124o60. Sixty four lead objects have been recorded from the area and at least 50 more are thought to have been recovered. Thirty-seven are now in the possession of the Verulamium Museum (Accession Numbers SABMS 79.2960; 82.571-2; 84.1-25, 644-5, 1421-6,1435). The finders reported that the lead objects were found in small groups rather than individually, though no large hoards have been discovered. Although the area was field-walked by the local archaeological society, no further lead finds were recorded. All but 13 of the objects are more or less biconical in form (FIGS. 2-3). Some were cast in moulds and casting flashes survive on a number of examples. They vary both in dimension and weight, between 22 mm and 39 mm in length, most being between 30 mm and 35 mm, and from 28 gms to 78 gms in weight (FIGS. 4-5). Of the remaining items, one is oval in outline and section (FIG. 3a, 48), three rather irregular in shape (FIG. 3a, 50-52) and one is a mere stub of lead (FIG. 3a, 53). These probably represent miscastings from the intended biconical shape. The remaining nine pieces clearly do not belong in this group and are discussed separately. There is little doubt that most of these objects are leaden sling-shots, the classical glandes. Sling-shots are recorded at a number of British sites (FIG. Io; Appendix i) and with over ioo examples2 the St Albans find is one of the largest from the province. Without exception the British examples have been recovered from sites with undoubted military associations3 and the discovery of a number of items of early military equipment from