Building a shield

[DECIMvS MERCATIvS VARIANvS]

Sorry, but that's enough to create a 5% difference, and if you look at extant examples in museums of what was being carried and worn it's clear that they were really small blokes. 5' 7" is the tall version of Roman man, and many male skeletons found in cemeteries are closer to 5' 5.5" (in Italy itself IIRC). When a shield at rest is just above your belly button, it was at nipple height for real 2000 years ago. This has a major impact on anecdotal evidence from modern re-enactors making claims that the scutum, helmet, armour, gladius, etc, could "do this" and "do that". The data is flawed.

You only have to look at the helmet found with the internal felt and fur intact. Try stuffing that into an accurately sized repro of the Gallic G and fit it on a modern western noggin.

So, Tarbicvs, what size would you say the scutum should be? (In inches would be spiffy as you know I'm one of them ignorant Americuns what don't hold w/ that wierd-ass metric crap). Seriously, it seems to depend on whom you ask. Hibernicus was telling me 46"-49" which to me seems way big. However, I can see your argument for up sizing due to larger modern physiques.

I'd also like to see some good pix of that helmet.
Best, DMV (back from the cold for a bit)