Material
|
Bronze/Copper Alloy |
Dimensions |
5.5cm long x 1.4cm wide
Thickness: ~0.5mm
Scutum Edge Thickness
(measured at nail): 3mm |
Roman Empire |
1st
to 3rd
Century AD |
Description |
|
A piece of
bronze believed to be part of the trim of a Roman shield. One rivet is
still intact where it would have secured to the edge of the shield,
providing further strength and support.
The bronze
is still in good condition and has a nice green patina. This piece is not
from a Scutum style Legionary shield as those pieces generally had a trim
with small outlying section where the rivets would have attached.
Numerous shields have been found however that only had a straight edge trim, mainly
on the flat oval and round shields used in the later empire. The
measurement of the length of the nail/rivet indicate that the shield was
approximately 3mm thick at the edge. This is consistent with other
known examples or shield and edgings.
There is evidence that Legionaries and
Auxiliaries alike had flat oval shields especially in the later empire when
there was far less distinction between the two units. So this piece of
trim could
have been used by both a Legionary and an Auxiliary on their shield.
(1)(2)
-painting by John Warry
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