Object of the Month: November 2025
Spearhead found at the Ambleside Roman Fort
What do we know about conflicts in Ambleside during the Roman occupation? The Object of the Month for November is this spearhead found at the Ambleside Roman Fort.
This iron spearhead was found at the fort in 1962 during archaeological excavations at Waterhead before a new road was built there. It has a broad blade with a split around socket and was made at some point between the first and fourth centuries.
The Ancient Romans used a pilum in battle, which was a kind of spear or javelin. They were usually around two metres in length, with a metal pyramid-shaped barb on the end. By the first century, most pila were made to weigh only 2kg, making them much easier to wield in battle.
The Ambleside Roman fort was first built in the first century, likely around 80 CE during Agricola’s governorship.
Sources:
• The Armitt Collection
• Hadrian’s Wall Country – Bowness-on-Solway
• The Roman Military – The Pilum (spear)
• The Past – A battle of Ambleside?