Scutum 9 AD

[caiusbeerquitius]

I was wondering whether the Haltern shield bosses (like these wonderful reproductions by manninimperial)

belonged to shields without a spina, or if they had a wooden spina starting at the end of the shield boss? Anyone any ideas?

Also Junkelmann states in "Die Legionen des Augustus" that the later scuta had brass spinae, so I was wondering whether these actually are present in the archaeological record. These would go well with such a boss
, but wood would be quite a sensible choice as well.

[Peroni]

Hi Christian,

The first photo (at the top in your post) has no provision for a spina, but the boss below it has the two raised openings to take a strengthening bar or spina. There are similar examples from Mainz and Carlisle (slightly later period) of this type.

Here's the find from Mainz..
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/ ... bo_1-2.jpg

There are also finds of bifurcated metal shield strengtheners which have been found in the same context as the second type of boss. (Namely Carlisle)

[Tarbicus]

Not really answering the question, but these links and pics often get lost in the morass of posts: The Fayum Scutum

[url:tcm1mpkt]http://www.roma-victrix.com/armamentarium/scvta_scutumelfayum.htm[/url]

[Tarbicus]

But here's the Carlisle one at top:

[url:1vphwevm]http://www.roma-victrix.com/armamentarium/scvta_umboequitatus.htm[/url]

[Peroni]

Thanks Jim, I didn't post that image as it is of a different typ[e of boss!

The Fayum scutum has a wooden boss, simplified later by the iron equivalent.

[caiusbeerquitius]

bifurcated metal shield strengtheners

Hmm. That´s interesting. Do you have any pics of these?
I am working on a 9 AD shield, the shield body is finished, but I am not sure about the assemblage of the findings. AFAIK there are no metal spinae from Haltern or Kalkriese. I suppose that the first shield boss above could go with a Kasr-El-Harit shield body without spinae, and the second with either a wooden or a metal spina, what do you think?

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Would the wooden boss on the Fayum scutum have had a metal boss over it? I was waiting for one like that, but the carpenter quit, so now it will only have a metal boss!

If it is too unauthentic, then I will probably try to make the wooden boss and spina myself! (and off into la la land I go)

I am thinking they were still using the republican scutum in 9AD?

Is that the kind you are refering to here?

[caiusbeerquitius]

Kasr-El-Harit is in the Fayum, so it´s the same shield. Fayum is simply too unprecise, as there are other shields from there as well..

[Peroni]

I am thinking they were still using the republican scutum in 9AD?

Possibly, but by the Augustan period you were more likely to see the curve-sided scutum (top and bottom cut off).

@ Christian. I know I have some photos somewhere of the metal strengtheners, As soon as I find them I'll post them.

[caiusbeerquitius]

Cool!

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Great, I already have one of them! That was one reason I wanted it!
The republican will do for a Caesarian impression then! D

[Peroni]

Ok, Found some pics Christian!

These shield components are from Vindonissa. The parts with the loops at the ends are the bifurcated strengtheners I mentioned earlier..

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/ ... ldbars.jpg

There are some in the Lunt Museum in Coventry that I have seen up close too.

Michael Simkins' reconstruction places them on the front face of the shield


Which would fit in nicely with the shield boss from Carlisle.

The Simkins reconstruction of the Kasr el Harit scutum used the boss from Mainz and wooden spina, although he also added a metal facing to the spina.

[url:3jmvnyqb]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/peronis/KasrelHarit.jpg[/url]

[S AUFIDIUS]

Dear Caiustarquitius,

in my opinion there is a mixture of shield types in the augustan period.
The arch in Orange (around 20 AD) shows still the republican oval-scutum and the relief from St. Remy (Glanum), dated as late augustan, shows clearly the cut-scutum.

[caiusbeerquitius]

Peroni, thanks a lot! o

[Tarbicus]

I don't understand why a metal facing would be added to an already thickened shield area with a wooden spine and/or or umbo? Unless the easily replaced metal parts were applied to save on the much harder to replace wooden parts, which were integral to the scutum's construction in the first place.