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Many illustrations of Celtic or early Roman shields show a raised ridge about 2 or 3 inches from the edge.
For example, see plate B of Osprey's Rome's Enemies(2).
The obvious answer is that it has something to do with edging the shield, but I cannot quite see how that would work.
Is there any real evidence for this ridge. If so what is it?
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I have to admit I've not seen these on any reconstructed items. What are they based on?
IIRC the fayum scutum was covered with felt wrapped around and sewn through the board. Could this be to do with the 'seam'?
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Graham Sumner depicts Caesar's shield with the raised ridge, in RMC 1. In fact, 2 raised ridges. It's based on stone reliefs from Narbonne, France. He also has it with gold and silver plated fittings as described by Suetonius. Monsieur Sumner says the illustration depicts Caesar with the shield he grabbed from a legionary during battle against the Nervii (or something like that).
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There are some more examples in "Greece and Rome at War". For example:
Page 88 Lars Porsena - ridge present
Page 91 Villanovan Warriors - ridge absent
Page 95 Various - absent
Page 107 Samnite - present
Page 120 Celtic chief -absent
Page 138 Army entrenching - present
Page 151 Spanish infantryman - absent
Page 175 Insubres chief - present
It comes and goes in the plates of appendix 3 too.
The ridge seems to only occur on shields that have a spine/wood boss.
And, of course, it only appears on artists impressions. I just cannot find anything that actually justifies it - what is it?
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A number of fragments of shield covers which have been found show the covers to have had a strip of leather sewn to the front which seems to have run around the entire cover about an inch in from the edge (when the cover is on the shield). This is probably to reinforce the edge and stop it stretching. Is it a believeable idea then to suggest that some of the sculpural repesentations may show shields with covers on?
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