\"Celtic\" military technology and the Romans

[Dan Howard]

I am now very curious about this matter. Certainly all those osprey books couldn't have been basing their reconstructions on nothing! Is there a basis to this? Or is it pure speculation?

Yes it is pure speculation. Most reconstructions are based solely on contemporary illustrations which can be interpreted in more than one way. IMO the only decent reconstruction was done by Beatson because he used plates that were actually found in Byzantium and used a lacing pattern that was in use in the region at the time (Krefeld-Gellup).

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~chrisandp...ellar.html

The dots on some illustrations that Dawson has interpreted as rivets are more likely an embossed dome to strengthen the lame as has been found on extant examples. See Figure 6, No. 3.