Gambesons in roman times?

[Renatus]

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The diamond-patterned cuirass on the Spilt sarcophagus shows a 'dot' at the centre of each diamond. The sculptor is obviously able to represent all sorts of patterns and textures - if he wanted to show scales or mail he would have done so.

The dots in the middle make it even LESS likely that it is quilted textiles. Mail is most likely interpretation because it is the only one for which we have a precedent.

Whatever it is, it isn't mail. It may be a true representation of quilted armour, for which we have no surviving examples with which to compare it, or it may be what the sculptor thought quilted armour looked like, without having seen it, in the same way in which the cataphracts on Trajan's Column are an over-literal interpretation of cavalry described as having horse and rider 'covered' with scale armour.