01-25-2023, 02:53 AM
(This post was last modified: 01-25-2023, 05:06 AM by Sean Manning.
Edit Reason: added third paragraph
)
Iron shield bosses were used for about 2,000 years across a vast area. I don't think anyone in the world has studied all of them. Could you narrow down what you are looking for in terms of place and time?
The European bosses I am familiar with are round, but there might be something like that in the period of transition from the spined shield to the bossed shield around the first century BCE and first century CE. If I can think of a good book on the transition between the two designs I will add it, its hard because archaeologists sometimes call the reinforcement on the middle of the spina of a spined shield the umbo or boss.
South Asian bosses are often a bit bigger than originals (because the Viking Fightin' groups wear thick gloves) and a bit thicker (because steel is cheap, nobody today marches with their shield for a month, and customers expect their toys not to need maintenance)
The European bosses I am familiar with are round, but there might be something like that in the period of transition from the spined shield to the bossed shield around the first century BCE and first century CE. If I can think of a good book on the transition between the two designs I will add it, its hard because archaeologists sometimes call the reinforcement on the middle of the spina of a spined shield the umbo or boss.
South Asian bosses are often a bit bigger than originals (because the Viking Fightin' groups wear thick gloves) and a bit thicker (because steel is cheap, nobody today marches with their shield for a month, and customers expect their toys not to need maintenance)
Nullis in verba
I have not checked this forum frequently since 2013, but I hope that these old posts have some value. I now have a blog on books, swords, and the curious things humans do with them.
I have not checked this forum frequently since 2013, but I hope that these old posts have some value. I now have a blog on books, swords, and the curious things humans do with them.
