Ancient Roman Lead Sling Bullet (Glandes) Culture / Period: Ancient Roman Date / Period: 1st – 2nd Century A.D. Material: Lead Dimensions: 30 mm Condition: Good condition No shipping outside the European Union. Due to complex export regulations concerning cultural goods, this item cannot be shipped outside the EU. Please ensure you have a delivery address within the European Union before placing a bid. Provenance information: Object Registration ID: 73 The current owner purchased the Ancient Roman lead sling bullet from a private collector, N.N., in Tilburg. The previous owner, a private collector, N.N. from Tilburg, the Netherlands, stated that the object had been in his collection since an unknown date. According to the previous owner, the object had previously been in a private collection in the Netherlands since the 1980s. No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object is available. Background Information: This object is an Ancient Roman lead sling bullet, commonly known in Latin as a glans, meaning “acorn”, a reference to the compact, pointed shape often seen in these projectiles. Such objects were used as ammunition for the sling, a simple but highly effective ranged weapon consisting of cords and a central pouch from which the projectile was released at high speed. In the Roman world, slings were used especially by auxiliary troops and specialist slingers. These soldiers could strike from a distance before close combat began, supporting infantry formations and disrupting enemy lines. Although the sling itself was made of perishable materials and rarely survives archaeologically, the lead bullets remain as direct evidence of this important military technology. Lead was especially suitable for sling bullets because of its high density. A relatively small projectile could carry considerable weight, allowing it to travel with force and accuracy. The pointed, biconical form helped the projectile move efficiently through the air and deliver a powerful impact. These objects were often cast in moulds, showing that their production belonged to an organised military and craft tradition rather than being improvised individually. During the Early Imperial Period, Roman military equipment was produced and distributed across the vast territories of the empire. Sling bullets are known from military sites, forts, siege contexts, and battlefield areas throughout the Roman world. Such vessels were traded across large distances, reaching regions such as present-day Germany and the Netherlands. In this case, the object’s precise findspot is not recorded, and no specific regional attribution should be assumed. This piece provides a direct and physical link to Roman warfare and to the practical equipment once used by soldiers in the ancient world. It forms a tangible connection to a period in which objects of this kind played an active role in military life, training, and combat."