Verutum
The verutum, plural veruta (), was a short javelin used in the Roman army. This javelin was used by the "velites" for skirmishing purposes, unlike the heavier "pilum", which was used by the "hastati" and "principes" for weakening the enemy before advancing into close combat. The shafts were about long, substantially shorter than the "pilum", and the point measured about long. The "verutum" had either an iron shank like the "pilum" or a tapering metal head. It was sometimes thrown with the aid of a throwing strap, or "amentum". The "verutum" was probably adopted from the Samnites and the Volsci  but there is not enough proof for that. During the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC, Roman light infantry ("velites") would carry seven "veruta" into combat. It proved to be quite an effective weapon, even against war elephants as proven in the battle of Zama. In the late 2nd century BC, the "verutum" was taken out of service along with the "veles", but the javelin was taken back into the legionary arsenal during the Late Empire.