Today, I bought my friend very interesting MD find for my collection.. Roman iron Caltrop, 5x6 cm, 29 gr..
I remember reading about these many times. I'm sure they sure would cause a bit of itching if stepped on.
Wow! Very cool piece of paraphernalia. Do you plan to keep? Are these unheard of, or a more common item?
Mat, honestly, I have only find one caltrop so far..There are some fakes on the market, I believe, but they are easily recognized..
Very cool! I think I remember in Caesar's Gallic Wars where it's mentioned that they make these in preparation for being sieged while sieging.
The caltrop is a nice find. It was probably most effective for use against enemy horses and possibly elephants. Here is a recent article on the recent discovery of a caltrop at a Roman burial in Britain: A skeleton and a caltrop [a Roman era device similar to police spikes possibly used to stop advancing troops and horses]. Both were unearthed at Grange Paddocks by archaeologists (Image: East Herts District Council) https://www.hertfordshiremercury.co...n-skeletons-weapons-discovered-during-7004357 Here’s some nice background information from the Trimontium Museum in Scotland: “A Caltrop, or Tribulus, is a weapon made up of two or more sharp nails or spines arranged in such a manner that one of them always points upward. They would often be hidden in grass or fords as part of defences that slowed the advancement of marching troops and horses, especially those drawing chariots. It was common for them to be used in areas around forts. The name “caltrop” comes from the Latin calcitrapa (foot-trap). The synonymous Latin word “tribulus” provides part of the modern scientific name of a plant commonly called the caltrop, whose spiked seed case can injure feet and even puncture tyres.” https://www.trimontium.co.uk/archive-item/caltrop-replica/ Here is a good video on ancient booby traps. The information about the use of caltrops begins at 7:30:
