Ancient weapons "bullets"????

horatio

January 19, 2007 09:42

From ancient assault weapon no doubt!


http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/discoveries/2007-01-17-ancient-war_x.htm?csp=34

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  kimi

  January 19, 2007 09:47

  Interesting.

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  jimbowby

  January 19, 2007 09:54

  [8D]-Whats really interesting, is that if they were "slung" from catapults or -cam-over- slings--
  
  --why were they pointed and not just round ???
  
  --[:o)][:o)]--JIMBO

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  allen griggs

  January 19, 2007 11:53

  Those guys were desperate to be making sling ammo from clay.
  Usually stones were used. A rock is harder, and heavier than clay, so will give better ballistics.
  Slings were widely used in warfare in the ancient world. At Celtic sites in England and Ireland, from 2,500 years ago, piles of dozens of sling stones have been found, piled up in caches in hill forts. You can imagine, slinging a two pound rock with a two foot long sling, it could really put a whipping on you. And you could get off many shots in a minute.
  David took out Goliath with one between the eyes.
  I have seen Palestenians using slings against Israeli troops. Even with body armor and a helmet, if you caught a sling stone right in the mouth it would ruin your day. I imagine if it hit your arm it could break your arm.

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  buschmaster

  January 19, 2007 13:15

  probably made from clay because they could make it any size they want, instead of having to go looking for rocks just the right size. plus it's all right there, they don't have to go running around gathering them up.

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  mrseatle

  January 19, 2007 14:03

  The Colosis at rhodes was built from broken up war machines...
  
  there's just some things aobut ancient warfare we will never know...

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  ElMuertoMonkey

  January 19, 2007 15:01

  Sounds like the ancient precursor to frangible ammo.

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  11b6r

  January 19, 2007 15:24

  Yes, the were called bullets- or in Latin- acorns. Shape helped keep them from rolling out of the pouch of the sling. Baked clay- mass production, uniform size/ weight/ shape- compared to your handy rock that may not fly straight. Were also cast from lead. Skilled slinger could do you serious harm at about 200 meters.

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