Renatus, your response, along with my aspirin and tea, triggered some thoughts this morning: A multi-discipline approach is clearly the best way to fully test plumbatae. A team encompassing historians, aerodynamicists (neologism?), and kinesthesiologists may quickly uncover aspects of the darts not yet understood.
As Robert Vermaat smartly conjectured years ago, the existence of (IIRC) 15 different types of darts (mostly weight differences) may indicate use in different tactical situations. A team comprised as above may be able to create discrete taxonomic groupings of plumbatae that aren't readily apparent to researchers lacking a 'hard sciences' background.
Current knowledge in this area (optimal utilization) is deeply suspect. At least to my mind it is. My bare-bones testing has already destroyed the 30m myth, so what else do we 'know' that simply isn't true? Seems like it would be a great project.
Regards
Well, not shirt sleeves, it is the Sierra Nevada mountains in winter, but your point is well taken. Testing should take place in appropriate gear - from velites lightly clad, to the legionary soldier, to mounted cavalry etc.
I looked a few days ago for local re-enactors in reasonable driving distance, but no luck. My testing was only to prove that the OH method is (1) viable and (2) capable for throwing at distances well beyond the heretofore assumption that 30m was the limit. I am hoping that others with access to more resources will take up the standard and perform serious, rigorous tests. I make no pretense that my simple tests will define the limits of what is possible with these darts and I lose my strong-armed thrower next week when he has to return to duty (USAF).
Thanks for engaging with me on this, Renatus.
BTW, all my results were from a standing throw, i.e. no run up.
Regards,
As Robert Vermaat smartly conjectured years ago, the existence of (IIRC) 15 different types of darts (mostly weight differences) may indicate use in different tactical situations. A team comprised as above may be able to create discrete taxonomic groupings of plumbatae that aren't readily apparent to researchers lacking a 'hard sciences' background.
Current knowledge in this area (optimal utilization) is deeply suspect. At least to my mind it is. My bare-bones testing has already destroyed the 30m myth, so what else do we 'know' that simply isn't true? Seems like it would be a great project.
Regards
(12-29-2018, 03:51 PM)Renatus Wrote: What you also have to consider is the effect on overall performance of the encumbrances of armour, shields and other military paraphernalia. I suspect that you and your son may have been doing it in your shirtsleeves, while the re-enactors who tried it may have been in their full kit. Otherwise, your son does seem to have all the requirements. Is there a late-Roman re-enactment group near you that could fit him out for a more realistic trial and see how that affects the results, if at all?
Well, not shirt sleeves, it is the Sierra Nevada mountains in winter, but your point is well taken. Testing should take place in appropriate gear - from velites lightly clad, to the legionary soldier, to mounted cavalry etc.
I looked a few days ago for local re-enactors in reasonable driving distance, but no luck. My testing was only to prove that the OH method is (1) viable and (2) capable for throwing at distances well beyond the heretofore assumption that 30m was the limit. I am hoping that others with access to more resources will take up the standard and perform serious, rigorous tests. I make no pretense that my simple tests will define the limits of what is possible with these darts and I lose my strong-armed thrower next week when he has to return to duty (USAF).
Thanks for engaging with me on this, Renatus.
BTW, all my results were from a standing throw, i.e. no run up.
Regards,