Editing Pilum (section)

==Results of experimental archaeology==
Due in part to [[experimental archaeology]],  the design of the ''pilum'' is believed to have evolved to be armour-piercing; the pyramidal head would punch a small hole through an enemy shield, allowing the thin shank to pass through and penetrate far enough to wound the man behind it. The thick wooden shaft provided the weight behind the punch.

In one description, one of the two iron nails that held the iron shaft in place was replaced with a weak wooden pin that would break on impact, causing the shaft to twist sideways. [[Gaius Marius]] is sometimes given credit for that modification.<ref>Plutarch, "Gaius Marius", 25.2</ref> Archaeological evidence from the 80s&nbsp;BC through to the early imperial era show that this redesign was not adopted.<ref>{{harvnb|Taylor|2019|p=78}}; {{harvnb|Matthew|2010|pp=65–66|ps=. Matthew believes the redesign was a one-time expedient and that Marius's rapid departure from active command in the immediate aftermath of victory over the Cimbri prevented the redesign from being fully adopted.}}</ref>