n a cave near the ancient settlement of Ein Gedi on the banks of the Dead Sea, archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority swords, which replaced the shorter as the primary weapon used by Roman mounted and infantry troops. The shortest weapon is a ring-pommel sword, which was also commonly used by Roman soldiers stationed in the ancient province of Judea beginning in the first century A.D. Three of the weapons were still sheathed in their original wooden scabbards.
