Hallo people!
I've been to an archaeological excavation this morning, to meet some friends of mine who're currently working at some Picenian tombs.
The excavation begun in January and about 20 graves have been dug since them; they dates from the Vth to the IVth century b.C. (500 - 400 b.C.).
There're males and females graves, with different stuff inside.
A friend of mine told me that they excavated a young male's tomb in which there was a long curved sword and, near the skull, a group of round stones perfectly stacked. There were also signs of a bag made of organic material (the ground color was more dark around these stones).
I haven't been able to see these stones, because they've already been given to the Superintendence, but my friends told me that they were polished pebbles, about 2 cm (0,78 inches) in diameter.
I'll try to examine them, but should they've been sling bullets it would be another evidence that slinging was a common practice among the Picenian between VIth and IInd century b.C.
Greetings,
Mauro.

Thrilling job you have  :D

Maybe in France, surely not here - last wage was 30 €/day and I got it 5 months after I finished the excavation.
Museums, Superintendances, other Institutions have no money to engage young people.
Public competitions are designed to engage a determined person.
Therefore I decided to quit (official) archaeology and dedicate myself to scuba diving related jobs (taking care of marine weather stations, cleaning boats and so on)  ;)
Greetings,
Mauro.

Same in France don't worry : Archaeology thrills the mind but not the wallet !

Well... it does, if it's done illegally  ;D
Greetings,
Mauro.

The more I study Archaeology the more interested I become...maybe I will go after a PhD after all.

I hope it's not off topic..i just found a very cool picture of a big stash of lead ammo found on the board of a sunk ship in Sardinia.
"The museum shows archeological finds from Cuccuru Is Arrius (prehistorical and nuragic), from Tharros (Phoenician-Punic and Roman) and from the shipwreck near the island of Mal di Ventre carrying lead bars."
The picture number 20 shows the lead glans.
Not sure if you've seen it,anyways,it's here:
http://www.tharros.info/ViewGallery.php?cat=131&lng=en

Many thanks for your finding, jlasud, these are really remarkable!
Sardinia has been colonized by Phoenician during the Final Bronze Age (ca 1200 b.C) and then became a land for very busy sea traders and warriors.
It was only after being Romanized in the 2nd Century b.C. that you find lead bullets stored in ships, but slings have been used in naval battles at least since VIth Century b.C., as shown in the Stele di Novilara, which you can see in this forum's Pre-Roman section.
Kentucky, go for it! There're many wonders that just wait to be found!
Greetings and many thanks,
Mauro.

Excellent. Not clear to me if these were found in a wreck ?

The shape is quite close (though not the same) to the Spanish lead projectiles.