Round Shield Bosses

This article's completion rating is 1 out of 5. Article planned for future work. No real progress to date.

This article's completion rating is 1 out of 5. Article planned for future work. No real progress to date.

Viking Age Compendium articles on Shields:

Wargear

Round Shields Overview

Shields found in Britain

Round Shield Designs

Round Shield Bosses

Kite Shields

Viking Age Compendium articles on Shields:

Wargear

Round Shields Overview

Shields found in Britain

Round Shield Designs

Round Shield Bosses

Kite Shields

Also known as an Umbo

Sweden, Birka

68 shields in 58 graves, 8 graves with 2 shields. Less than 50% could be categorised into the typology.

R564 Early

• Norway, Myklebost

• Universitetsmuseenes Webportal [Myklebost Cauldron]

• Sweden, Birka

2 in Bj 628, Bj 798, Bj 1098 (Arbman 1940:Taf. 16:1 & 3)

Dia:14.5-17cm H:6.5-10cm

• Arwidsson, Greta (ed.) (1986) Birka II:2 Systematische Analysen der Graberfunde. [Systematic Analysis of the Graves Findings] Birka, Kungliga Vitterhets Historie och Antikvitets Akademien: II:2 p.39-40
• Arbman, Holger (1940) Birka 1 Die Graber: Tafeln. [The Graves: Plates] Birka, Kungliga Vitterhets Historie och Antikvitets Akademien

• 

  Norway: R564

R562 General

• Ireland, Kilmainham

D340[W1;Wk3]

D341[W2;Wk20]

• Bøe, Johanes (1940) Norse Antiquities in Ireland. Edited by Haakon Shetelig. (Available Online) Viking Antiquities in Great Britain and Ireland: Part 3
• p.324-330

• Sweden, Birka

(among others) Bj 581, Bj 955. Bj 958 (Arbman 1940:Taf. 16:5 & 4)

Dia:13.5-15.5cm H:~6.6cm

• Arwidsson, Greta (ed.) (1986) Birka II:2 Systematische Analysen der Graberfunde. [Systematic Analysis of the Graves Findings] Birka, Kungliga Vitterhets Historie och Antikvitets Akademien: II:2 p.39-40
• Arbman, Holger (1940) Birka 1 Die Graber: Tafeln. [The Graves: Plates] Birka, Kungliga Vitterhets Historie och Antikvitets Akademien

• 

  Norway, R562

• 

  Scotland, Ballinaby

• 

  Scotland, Westness

• 

  Ireland: Kilmainham wk.7

R563 Late

• Sweden, Birka

Bj 644, Bj 914, Bj 985 (Arbman 1940:Taf. 17:1 & 3)

Dia:14.2-15.5cm H:4.6-5.3cm

• Arwidsson, Greta (ed.) (1986) Birka II:2 Systematische Analysen der Graberfunde. [Systematic Analysis of the Graves Findings] Birka, Kungliga Vitterhets Historie och Antikvitets Akademien: II:2 p.39-40
• Arbman, Holger (1940) Birka 1 Die Graber: Tafeln. [The Graves: Plates] Birka, Kungliga Vitterhets Historie och Antikvitets Akademien

• 

  Norway: R563

• 

  Ireland: Kilmainham wk.4

R565 Late & Eastern

• Sweden, Birka

Bj 1035 and one without a grave number (Arbman 1940:Taf. 17:6)

Dia:14-15cm H:6.2-6.5cm

• Arwidsson, Greta (ed.) (1986) Birka II:2 Systematische Analysen der Graberfunde. [Systematic Analysis of the Graves Findings] Birka, Kungliga Vitterhets Historie och Antikvitets Akademien: II:2 p.39-40
• Arbman, Holger (1940) Birka 1 Die Graber: Tafeln. [The Graves: Plates] Birka, Kungliga Vitterhets Historie och Antikvitets Akademien

• 

  Norway, R565

Harrison has defined this type into 2 categories: ^{[HARRISON & Ó FLOINN 2014]:p.116}

Irish Sea A Type

• England, Cubria: Ormside

• Cowen, J.D. (1934) 'A catalogue of objects of the Viking period in the Tullie House Museum, Carlisle'. (Available Online) Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society: Ser.2 Vol.34
• Harrison, Stephen H. & Ó Floinn, Raghnall 2014 Viking Graves and Grave-Goods in Ireland. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. Medieval Dublin Excavations 1962-81: Ser.B Vol.11 p.119

• Isle of Man, : Cronk Moar

• Bersu, Gerhard and Wilson, David M. (1966) Three Viking Graves in the Isle of Man. The Society for Medieval Archaeology Monograph Servies: No 1
• Harrison, Stephen H. & Ó Floinn, Raghnall 2014 Viking Graves and Grave-Goods in Ireland. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. Medieval Dublin Excavations 1962-81: Ser.B Vol.11 p.119

• Scotland, Arran: Millhill, Lamlash

• Grieg, Sigurd (1940) Viking Antiquities in Scotland. Edited by Haakon Shetelig. (Available Online) Viking Antiquities in Great Britain and Ireland: Part 2 p.27-28, fig.11
• Harrison, Stephen H. & Ó Floinn, Raghnall 2014 Viking Graves and Grave-Goods in Ireland. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. Medieval Dublin Excavations 1962-81: Ser.B Vol.11 p.119

• Ireland, Dublin: South Great George's Street (99E414:197:1)

• Harrison, Stephen H. & Ó Floinn, Raghnall 2014 Viking Graves and Grave-Goods in Ireland. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. Medieval Dublin Excavations 1962-81: Ser.B Vol.11 p.119 Ill.58

• Norway, Vestfold: Kaupang, Grave Ka.316

Only known example outside of Britain and Ireland ^{[HARRISON & Ó FLOINN 2014]:p.119}.

• Harrison, Stephen H. & Ó Floinn, Raghnall 2014 Viking Graves and Grave-Goods in Ireland. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. Medieval Dublin Excavations 1962-81: Ser.B Vol.11 p.119
• Skre, Dagfinn (2006) Kaupang in Skiringssal. Excavation and surveys in Kaupang and Huseby, 1998-2003 p.124-125

Note: see [Ukjent gård] [Gravem] Vikingtid skjoldbule

• 

  England: Ormside

• 

  Isle of Man: Cronk Moar

• 

  Scotland: Millhill, Lamlash

• 

  Scotland: Millhill, Lamlash

Irish Sea B Type

There are 3 known examples:

• Isle of Man, : Balladoole

• Bersu, Gerhard and Wilson, David M. (1966) Three Viking Graves in the Isle of Man. The Society for Medieval Archaeology Monograph Servies: No 1 p.14-18
• Harrison, Stephen H. & Ó Floinn, Raghnall 2014 Viking Graves and Grave-Goods in Ireland. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. Medieval Dublin Excavations 1962-81: Ser.B Vol.11 p.120

• Scotland, Colonsay: Kiloran Bay.

Dia:9cm H:11.5cm (top missing)

• Grieg, Sigurd (1940) Viking Antiquities in Scotland. Edited by Haakon Shetelig. (Available Online) Viking Antiquities in Great Britain and Ireland: Part 2 p.50, fig.29
• Harrison, Stephen H. & Ó Floinn, Raghnall 2014 Viking Graves and Grave-Goods in Ireland. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. Medieval Dublin Excavations 1962-81: Ser.B Vol.11 p.120

• Ireland, Dublin: College Green 1819 (Sirr 266)

• Harrison, Stephen H. & Ó Floinn, Raghnall 2014 Viking Graves and Grave-Goods in Ireland. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. Medieval Dublin Excavations 1962-81: Ser.B Vol.11 p.120 Ill.59

• 

  Isle of Man: Balladoole - Boss

• 

  Isle of Man: Balladoole - Grip

• 

  Scotland: Kiloran Bay

Other related forms

• Scotland, Islay: Ballinaby

• Grieg, Sigurd (1940) Viking Antiquities in Scotland. Edited by Haakon Shetelig. (Available Online) Viking Antiquities in Great Britain and Ireland: Part 2 p.32-33, fig.14

• 

  Scotland: Ballinaby

• 

  Scotland: Ballinaby

From Manuscripts

• Ireland, Kilmainham

• Bøe, Johanes (1940) Norse Antiquities in Ireland. Edited by Haakon Shetelig. (Available Online) Viking Antiquities in Great Britain and Ireland: Part 3

D342[W3;Wk10;Boe W10]

D343[W4;Wk26;Boe Wk18]

D344[W5;Wk9;Boe Wk26]

D345[W6;Wk17;Boe Wk17]

D346[W7;Wk11 & 19;Boe Wk11, 36 & 19]

D347[W8;Wk16;Boe Wk16]

D348[W9;Wk23;Boe Wk23]

• p.324-330

1881:364[Wk24;Boe Wk24]

1881:365[Wk5;Boe Wk5]

• p.385

W43[Wk15;Boe Wk15]

• p.391

• 

  Ireland: Kilmainham D345

• 

  Ireland: Kilmainham wk.22

• 

  L'lle de Groix

Gold leaf

A metal shield boss that has been covered in gold leaf.

Painted Bosses

A metal shield boss that has been covered in paint.

To the best of my knowledge no shield boss has been found with traces of paint still adhering to it. Also the painting of bosses seems unlikely as period paints do not have the necessary adhesive properties.