Roman Auxiliary Infantry Barbed Iron Throwing Javelin Head (Verutum-Type) | Time of Jesus Artifact 1st Century AD

This iron barbed throwing javelin head was used by Roman auxiliary infantry stationed in Judea during the 1st century AD, the time of Jesus.

Designed for light missile combat before close engagement, verutum-type javelins were carried by skirmishing troops supporting Roman formations. The pronounced barbs helped prevent removal after impact, increasing their effectiveness in battle.

Artifacts of this type were used during the Roman presence in Jerusalem and the conflicts surrounding the First Jewish Revolt (66–73 AD), offering a direct connection to the military forces active in the Holy Land nearly 2,000 years ago.

Length: 9.5 cm (3.74 inches)

This iron barbed javelin head dates to the 1st century AD, during the Early Roman Empire, the period commonly associated with the time of Jesus. Roman auxiliary infantry units stationed throughout Judea carried weapons of this type while supporting imperial control across the region.

Artifacts like this are closely connected to the military presence in Jerusalem and the surrounding countryside during the decades leading up to the First Jewish Revolt (66–73 AD). They reflect the equipment used by soldiers who patrolled the roads, guarded the cities, and served in the armies active in the Holy Land nearly two thousand years ago.

The javelin head is forged from iron, the standard material used for Roman military weapons during the early imperial period. Iron provided the strength needed for penetration and durability, making it ideal for light throwing spears carried by auxiliary troops.

Over centuries of burial, the surface developed a stable archaeological patina typical of ancient iron recovered from the soils of the Levant. This natural aging preserves both the authenticity and historical character of the weapon as it survives today.