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+--- Thread: New Type of Armour? (/showthread.php?tid=19528)
New Type of Armour? - Vindex - 09-16-2011
From BBC's Digging For Britain
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b014hfkr/Digging_for_Britain_Series_2_Britannia/
Apologies for those who can't open this link but the programme covers the discovery of very small circular,scale "armour" (which is called part of a "garment") found at the same time as the Lorica Segmentata (which is blogged) in Caerleon. It is associated with a copper alloy piece which depicts Mithras.
I've seen this armour close up and it is indeed VERY small. Far too small and delicate to be protective in any way but the most amazing piece of craftsmanship. (And I have my own theory about it too LOL!)
Truly unique and I hope we get to see more of it soon.
Edited to Add: The Crosby Garrett helmet is on it too.
Re: New Type of Armour? - Medicus matt - 09-16-2011
Quote:I've seen this armour close up and it is indeed VERY small.
Me too. I saw it whilst it was in the ground and I'm still puzzled by it.
Did you see the scale that came out of the ground at the same time? Tiny, smaller than the stuff they've got in the museum.
Re: New Type of Armour? - Vindex - 09-16-2011
Yes...it's a marvellous conundrum, isn't it? There's quite a bit of the larger scale (ie larger than this micro armour!)from the sounds of it but how much of it can be conserved is another matter.
VERY disappointed that the LS wasn't shown on the programme.
Clearly not "sexy" enough for TV!
Re: New Type of Armour? - Gaius Julius Caesar - 09-16-2011
Guys, i saw scale at vindolanda thet was amazingly tiny too.
Are you saying this is even smaller than that?
Also the samples of Plumata(I think is the term) from Eric Smidt is really tiny too!
If this is smaller this is really an amazing find! 8) 8)
Re: New Type of Armour? - Vindex - 09-16-2011
Quote:Guys, i saw scale at vindolanda thet was amazingly tiny too.
Are you saying this is even smaller than that?
Also the samples of Plumata(I think is the term) from Eric Smidt is really tiny too!
If this is smaller this is really an amazing find! 8) 8)
It's about the size of the head of a six inch nail; probably just smaller.
Re: New Type of Armour? - Gaius Julius Caesar - 09-16-2011
Well thats small!
Have you seen the one from vindolanda? True it is of small scales as opposed to discs
but unless my memory is totally off, it is very small too!
I look forward to seeing this link when I can access it anyway,
thanks for the update on it!
Re: New Type of Armour? - Vindex - 09-16-2011
Quote:Well thats small!
Have you seen the one from vindolanda? True it is of small scales as opposed to discs
but unless my memory is totally off, it is very small too!
I look forward to seeing this link when I can access it anyway,
thanks for the update on it!
Nope - not seen the Vindolanda one...is it in a publication or on a link?
Re: New Type of Armour? - Epictetus - 09-16-2011
Quote:I've seen this armour close up and it is indeed VERY small. Far too small and delicate to be protective in any way but the most amazing piece of craftsmanship. (And I have my own theory about it too LOL!)
Can you share your theory?
Re: New Type of Armour? - Vindex - 09-16-2011
Quote: Can you share your theory?
Don't wish to appear coy, but I'm waiting for the other scales to be excavated fully before I stun and amaze :wink:
Re: New Type of Armour? - Gaius Julius Caesar - 09-16-2011
Quote:Nope - not seen the Vindolanda one...is it in a publication or on a link?
Ahhh nope! It's one of those memory jobs....
Possibly in one of the dig publications somewhere though.
they seem to release one to cover every year diggin finds.
Re: New Type of Armour? - Gaius Julius Caesar - 09-17-2011
I wonder if this is an example of a scale coiff?
If i recall the scales from vindolanda were set is a curve....
perhaps it is a logical progression to use round scales to greate the hood?
Re: New Type of Armour? - Crispvs - 09-18-2011
You are not thinking of the scale from Carlisle are you Byron? That was part of the collar section of a scale shirt or gorget but the scales were quite large (in fact the scales in each row were smaller that those of the row outside it and all narrowed at their upper ends, producing an even curvature. This is OT though so sorry.
Crispvs
Re: New Type of Armour? - Vindex - 09-18-2011
I wouldn't say that was OT Crispus.
The programme says it is unique and I have tried very hard since seeing it in June to find anything remotely similar and failed so far, so all potential options inform the discussion. (Well, I think so anyway so I hope the moderators will too!)
Re: New Type of Armour? - Peroni - 09-20-2011
Looking at the peened-over shanks on those discs - what it was fastened to mustv'e been a decent thickness (suggests leather to me).
I'm still hoping that the LS fragments and the discs are part of the same cuirass and an example of the Alba Iulia seg (Newstead type with scale collar section/shoulder guards). http://www.romanarmytalk.com/rat.html?func=view&catid=17&id=272660&limit=20&start=60#273348
Not sure where the little head of Mithras plate fits though - if that too was part of the same item? :?
Re: New Type of Armour? - Gaius Julius Caesar - 09-20-2011
Finaly watched the show. Yes, that is interesting. If the head actually belongs to the discs, it could have been religious armour? Something to do with Mithraism?
Does not look very functional as combat armour.