Staff Slings and the Roman Army

[MarcusNorwood]

Is there any evidence in the sources or in the archaeological record that the Roman Army ever used staff slings in their missile arsenal?

Thanks,
Marcus

[Longovicium]

Vegetius, Book 1; 16 references slings and staff slings which recruits should be taught to use:

XVI. Ad lapides uero uel manibus uel fundis iaciendos exerceri diligenter conuenit iuniores. Fundarum usum primi Balearium insularum habitatores et inuenisse et ita perite exercuisse dicuntur, ut matres paruos filios nullum cibum contingere sinerent, nisi quem ex funda destinato lapide percussissent. Saepe enim aduersum bellatores cassidibus catafractis (loricis) que munitos teretes lapides de funda uel fustibalo destinati sagittis sunt omnibus grauiores, cum membris integris letale tamen uulnus importent et sine inuidia sanguinis hostis lapidis ictu intereat. In omnibus autem ueterum proeliis funditores militasse nullus ignorat. Quae res ideo ab uniuersis tironibus frequenti exercitio discenda est, quia fundam portare nullus est labor. Et interdum euenit, ut in lapidosis locis conflictus habeatur, ut mons sit aliquis defendendus aut collis, ut ab obpugnatione castellorum siue ciuitatum lapidibus barbari fundisque pellendi sint.

The online English translation is woefully poor and omits the fustibalus or staff-sling:

THE SLING

Recruits are to be taught the art of throwing stones both with the hand and sling. The inhabitants of the Balearic Islands are said to have been the inventors of slings, and to have managed them with surprising dexterity, owing to the manner of bringing up their children. The children were not allowed to have their food by their mothers till they had first struck it with their sling. Soldiers, notwithstanding their defensive armor, are often more annoyed by the round stones from the sling than by all the arrows of the enemy. Stones kill without mangling the body, and the contusion is mortal without loss of blood. It is universally known the ancients employed slingers in all their engagements. There is the greater reason for instructing all troops, without exception, in this exercise, as the sling cannot be reckoned any incumbrance, and often is of the greatest service, especially when they are obliged to engage in stony places, to defend a mountain or an eminence, or to repulse an enemy at the attack of a castle or city.

[Renatus]

As far as I know, Vegetius is our only literary source for the use of the fustibalus in the Roman army. He mentions it in ten chapters in relation to training (1.16 - as cited by Francis; 2.23), use in the field (2.15; 3.14; 3.24), in the defence of cities and forts (3.3; 4.8; 4.22; 4.29) and in naval warfare (4.44). The Latin text can be found online in The Latin Library and the best English translation is that of N. P. Milner, Vegetius: Epitome of Military Science, 2nd edition, Liverpool University Press, 1996.

[Eleatic Guest]

Not Roman but nonetheless:

- Medieval illumination

- Byzantine staff-slings mounted on poles