Leather Cuirass

[Tarbicus]

As to your second point, notice that I deliberately used the term "textile armour" - whether it was linen,leather (or some other textile? we just don't know! ) - it would still deteriorate, being organic, and thus be unlikely to pass from generation to generation.So the point not relevant to the debate.

How come we can buy original Napoleonic and World War One leather and textile items? Dan's point is surely relevant.