Difference between revisions of "Round Shields"

Revision as of 20:17, 1 March 2013

This article's completion rating is 2 out of 5. Article structure and content is subject to change as data is still being collected.

This article's completion rating is 2 out of 5. Article structure and content is subject to change as data is still being collected.

Flat round shield

Art
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Literature
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Archaeology

• Oseberg, Norway, 834AD. Shield boards [FOOTE and WILSON 1970: plate 25b]
• Gokstad, Norway, 900AD. Shield boards [NICOLAYSEN 1882]
• Trelleborg, Denmark. Shield boards [Kongens Borge]
• Tira, Latvia, C9th. Shield boards [BEATSON-a]

Discussion
Beason has discussed the use of the flat round shield [BEATSON-a] All are of planked construction. The Romans used plywood shields but no examples have been found since the C3rd. There is no evidence of plywood shields being used in the Viking Age. [STEPHENSON 2002:p.43] Additionally they were probably covered in leather at least on the face but more likely on both sides. [CAMERON 1998]

Lenticular round shield

A shield constructed from convex boards in such a way as to create a shallow dish.
Art
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Literature

• The battle of Maldon refers to ‘cellod bord’ which has been translated as ‘hollowed shield’ i.e. lenticular although Pollington express doubt regarding this interpretation [POLLINGTON 2006: p.148]

Archaeology
No curved boards have been found from archaeology. Discussion = A number of bosses with curved flanges have been found however. These bosses can be interpreted in two ways. Firstly the curved flange helps the boss to bite into the shield board [HARKE and DICKINSON 1992]. The second interpretation is that they were used on curved lenticular shields (BEATSON, The Viking Shield from Archeology). Illustrated manuscripts do however show numerous examples of shields that appear to be curved. Again these are open to interpretation with many some people arguing that they are an artistic way of showing flat shields side on [STEPHENSON 2007]. Discussion
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Round shield back and grip

Art

• Bible of S Paolo fuori le Mura C9th f.50v
• St Gallen – Golden Psalter f.??
• Suffolk, Valkyrie figure [PAS 2003]

Literature
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Archaeology

• Trellebord, Denmark. Wooden shield handle [Kongens Borge]
• Balladoole, Isle of Man. Iron shield grip with bands of cross hatched and diagonal decoration and boss shaped terminals – probably insular [BERSU and WILSON 1966:p.14-15]

Discussion
The reverse of the shield is visible on some Carolingian manuscripts.

Round shield boss (Umbo)

	Sugar loaf
	Viking domed
	Hiberno-Norse
	Irish
	Carolingian L'Ille de Groix

Decorative bosses

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.

Oval shields (Poached egg)

An oval shaped usually curved shield.
Art

• A figure on the Bayeux Tapestry c.1086AD [WILSON 1985]
• R2 Life of St Aubin, Angers Abbey c.1100AD
• Lotharingen, France, c.1000AD Now in the cathedral treasure of Aachen [SKODELL 2008]

Literature
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Archaeology

• 2 possible shields from Norway Trondheim, Norway dated to 1075AD – 1125AD [SKODELL 2008]

Discussion
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Round shield decoration

Shield colours

Round shield designs

Decorated with radiating curved lines [V]

Art

• Scandinavian examples (C8th to C12th):
  • Lillbjars, Gotland, C8th [HEATH 1985:p.53];
  • 16 silver pendants from Birka appear to copy shields complete with spiral design and possible shield handles. See Women’s Head - Amulets for more information. [ARWIDSSON 1989:p.9-11]
• Anglo-Saxon examples (C10th to C12th):
  • T49 BL, MS Cotton Cleopatra C VIII
• Carolingian & Western European examples (C9th to C12th):
  • Stuttgart Psalter c,830AD
  • St Gallen – Golden Psalter
• Germanic examples (pre. C9th):
  • Stone slab from Hornhausen C4th to 7th [DEVIRES and SMITH 2007:p.226]

Literature
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Archaeology
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Discussion
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Decorated with a cross [E]

Cross or Quarter designs

Painted in Oseberg, Borre, Ringerike, Mammen Urnes or Winchester art styles

Shield edging

Leather or rawhide shield edge

Sewn on

The shield boards that have been found have a row of holes around their perimeter. No traces of metal have as yet been identified in them. This means that it is likely that some sort of organic material was used to sow on an edge, probably leather thong, sinew or bast. Late Roman shields have been recovered from Dura Europos and ??? that have remnants of sowing [CAMERON 1998]. The stone carving at Repton has been suggested as having a thickened shield rim [CAMERON 1998:p.53]

Nailed on

An alternative interpreted method for attaching shield edges is by the use of nails. Even though no trace of metal has so far been detected it is possible that shield edges could have been attached by nails.

Metal shield edge

Art
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Literature
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Archaeology

• Birka, Sweden. Metal clips

Discussion
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References

<nocite> ARWIDSSON1989 BEATSONa BERSU1966 CAMERON1998 DEVIRES2007 FOOTE1970 HARKE1992 HEATH1985 Kongens Borge NICOLAYSEN1882 PAS2003 POLLINGTON2006 SKODELL2008 STEPHENSON2007 WILSON1985 </nocite> <biblio force=false>#Template:Bib</biblio>