05-30-2010, 09:45 PM
Quote: Likewise, the vast majority of depictions of early medieval shields clearly show them as domed. I don't know why people insist on saying such things are "highly stylized", since the shape, boss, handle arrangement, and other details are frequently shown with surprising detail, details which match the archeological record quite closely. It's true that the wood rarely survives, but surviving bosses, handles, and reinforcements are often made to fit a convex board. Sutton Hoo is a dramatic rarity, a royal grave with a number of imported items, but there are hundreds of other finds of nice plain shield bosses and weapons, all decently made. They match the artwork. Why assume that all these obviously skilled artists and blacksmiths were lying or incompetent, particularly when the details are so consistent?
Well that's not true, infact we have no evidence to suggest early medieval shields were convex, infact we have several intact shield boards from scandanavia, and every single one of them is flat, there is scant evidence to suggest boards were convex, and it's usually in the form of bent shield grips, that would appear to fit onto a bent board, this is mostly likely caused by earth pressure though. However, different point completely, early med shields are centrally gripped, and thus work flat, I can see your point about the arm loop not working very well on a flat shield, the entire weight is being borne onto your shoulder, very uncomfortable I would imagine. You don't need to be so aggressive in your responses though. I thought this was informal discussion? :wink:
Stuart
