A bronze javelin point in a femur from the Necropolis of Pontecagnano (Salerno, southern Italy, IV century BC)

We describe the right femur of an adult male from grave 4141 of the Ponteca gnano Necropolis (Salerno, IV century BC). The cortical surface of the bone is raised around a bronze mass visible on the bone surface at the level of the lesser trochanter at the central area of the anterior surface of the f emoral shaft. Around the mass there is new bone, which presents some micros copic evidence of inflammation. X-ray analysis reveals that the mass, which measures 2 cm in length, is the cone shaped posterior part of a javelin ti p, directed upwards, and with the tip folded. Therefore, it appears that th e javelin entered near the inguinal plica and struck the anterior surface o f the femoral neck from below. This injury could have occurred if the aggre ssor struck the victim, who was likely on horseback, from below. The roentg enograms also show a well developed reactive bone around the bronze project ile. Both the macroscopic aspects of the injury and its radiographic pictur e indicate that the victim survived for a considerable time following his u nusual injury.