Two iron pilum heads

Roman Britain, 1st century AD
From the Roman fort site at Hod Hill, Dorset

The pilum, or javelin was carried by legionary soldiers. It had a wooden shaft and an iron head giving a total length of about two metres. The small bolt-like tip was highly penetrating and the long slender iron shank, which was designed to buckle on impact, prevented it being re-used by the enemy.