archaeological scutum finds

[Cephas23]

I'm still working on my shield and was wondering if actual finds have revealed the Romans used cloth for scutum facings. Seems most used leather? I put this on the wrong forum, it should have gone under the Roman forum :oops: .

[rocktupac]

Yes, this should have been put in the Roman section. It's funny that you understood this (as noted in your post) but decided to post it in the Greek section anyway.

[Matthew Amt]

Ave!

"Most" might not be a good word to use, since there are so few remains. Almost nothing from the first century AD, in fact, besides the Doncaster shield, and I'm not sure if that had any of the facing left or not. But I'm thinking it did have some leather left? The Fayum shield, first century BC, was covered in felt front and back. The big Dura Europas scutum, 250 AD, had parchment/thin rawhide and linen, while the other shields from Dura Europas had anything from just paint to gesso, hide glue (with or without strands of apparently sinew), parchment, etc.

Leather is generally accepted as "correct" these days, but it's certainly not the only option.

Good luck and Vale,

Matthew

[Cephas23]

Thanks for the reply Mr. Amt! As always you have valuable information to share and I appreciate it.

[Peroni]

Almost nothing from the first century AD, in fact, besides the Doncaster shield, and I'm not sure if that had any of the facing left or not.

Quite a few fragmentary shield board finds from Masada - using a very coarse linen weave beneath leather/rawhide facing.

[Matthew Amt]

Ah, thanks! I didn't remember enough of the pertinant details of the Masada finds to include them.

Vale,

Matthew

[Peroni]

Here's the pertinent Masada fragments showing the fabric beneath the facing....

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Was it a legionary type scutum or a clipeus?

[Peroni]

Are you serious?! can't you tell from this fragment? :wink: :wink:

Honestly, No Idea. I'll go back to the report and see where it was found - it may give an indication from the camp location.There are fragments with curved edges in the report.

However, it is hard to tell whether these are all actually leather/hide facings or fragments of shield cover. 'Shield number 7' is what appears to be a quarter of a shield facing with curved top edge which could be from a flat board or a curved board.
Saying that, there are no remains of fabric or wood laths on this piece. Most likely a cover.

Metal edging fragments show both straight edges and curved.

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

:oops:

thanks!

[D B Campbell]

I'll go back to the report and see where it was found - it may give an indication from the camp location.There are fragments with curved edges in the report.

All the Masada material came from rubbish dumps up on top. As far as I know, only pottery and glass was found in the Camps. (And only Camps A and F were properly excavated, in any case.)