The Yetholm-type shield is a distinctive type of shield dating from 1200-800 BC (Bronze Age). The known shields come from Britain and Ireland, excepting one from Denmark. Their modern name comes from Yetholm in southern Scotland where a peat bog yielded three examples. Twenty two examples are known, although some of these are fragmentary, and a further seven or eight are known from written sources but are lost today.[1] The shields vary significantly in size, but are otherwise similar.
Rock carvings from this period made in Southern Scandinavia include depictions of shields decorated with concentric rings or rings of dots. The artist could not hope to show the fine detail of a Yetholm-type shield, but the similarity is striking.
The impressive shields would have indicated high social status.[1]
The shields are made of a copper alloy sheet about 0.6 mm thick. The alloy is a high-tin bronze: copper with 11-14% tin. They are round with a central domed boss created by hammering out from the back. The shield face is covered in raised ridges in concentric rings, each a couple of millimetres high. Between the ridges are rings of small hemispherical bosses about 4 mm across. Decoration was formed by hammering from the reverse (Repoussé).
The outer edge of the shield has been folded back and hammered down to form a strong rim. A handle is riveted across the open bowl of the boss, made from a thicker piece of sheet bronze folded over; also attached are a pair of metal tabs for a carrying strap. Rivet heads are on the front for fitting attachments, but are similar to the decorative raised bosses and difficult to identify.
Probably a flanged punch created the bosses to a uniform size and depth, although no contemporary tool has been found to accomplish this. The embossing would probably require the work piece to be supported, conceivably by a bed of pitch or lead. Some eye-judgement was required, which is revealed in the detail of the spacing of the bosses. As the craftsman came to complete a ring, the spacing would be changed slightly so as to ensure an even design and make the starting place inconspicuous. The shields show a high degree of accomplishment and, given the degree of similarity, it is likely that all were made in the same workshop by a few craftsmen.
The shields vary in size and in the number of embossed rings, but the size of the embossed features is consistent. The largest shield (found at Ayrshire) has twenty nine circular ridges and twenty nine rings of bosses; the smallest (originally thought to have been from County Antrim but actually from The River Thames) has eleven ridges and rings.[1]
The overall design, and especially the tabs, indicate that the shield did not have a wooden backing or other reinforcement, though one shield from Lough Gur is believed to have been backed with leather (which was initially written off as dried peat). The embossed design and folded rim impart some stiffness, but some have suggested that the shields were too flimsy for combat. In a 1952 archaeology experiment by John Coles, a reconstruction was made from copper hardened to match a Yetholm-type shield, and it was hit with a replica bronze sword. The shield was cut in two by a single stroke. However, experiments by Barry Molloy and Kate Anderson[2] have pointed out that bronze, the original material used, is substantially harder than even the hardened copper used by Coles, and that he appears to have used a much thinner sheet of copper than in the original designs.[3] Additional design features such as small handles with only about 110 mm for the fingers to grip, have also been cited as evidence that the shields were not used for combat.[3]
Some shields have damage likely to have occurred as a part of a sacrificial ceremony. The South Cadbury specimen was laid in a ditch and stabbed three times with a wooden stake.[4] Its discovery prompted metallurgical analysis of this and other examples by Peter Northover, strongly suggesting that, rather than the accepted range of 1000 to 800 BC, these shields were manufactured in the 12th century BC. Carbon dating implied that the South Cadbury example was deposited in the mid 10th century BC.[5]
The Wittenham shield, showing perforations that may have been caused by a spearhead
However, one shield from Long Wittenham in Oxfordshire has two lozenge-shaped perforations, interpreted as piercings caused by a spearhead, and other piercings hammered flat to close the gap, suggesting that the shield was a veteran of several combat encounters.
With the exception of the specimen found at South Cadbury by archaeologist Josh Williams,[6] all were found in wet contexts. They formed part of a widespread practice of placing valuable objects in wet places.[1] Presumably, this practice was motivated by religious beliefs, the details of which are unknown - although other ancient societies such as the Celts had similar practices.
Needham, Stuart P.; Northover, Peter; Uckelmann, Marion; Tabor, Richard (2012). "South Cadbury: The Last of the Bronze Age Shields". Archaeologishes Korrespondenblatt. 42 (4). ISSN 0342-734X.
Coles, J.M.; Leach, P.; Minnitt, S.C.; Tabor, R.; Wilson, A.S. (1999). "A Later Bronze Age Shield from South Cadbury, Somerset, England". Antiquity. Antiquity vol 73, 279. 73 (279): 33–48. doi:10.1017/S0003598X00087822. ISSN 0003-598X.
Coles, John; Minnitt, Stephen; Wilson, Andrew (2000). Ceremony and Display: The South Cadbury Bronze Age Shield. Somerset County Museums Service. ISBN978-0-86183-354-2.
Tabor, Richard (2008). Cadbury Castle: A hillfort and landscapes. Stroud: The History Press. ISBN978-0-7524-4715-5.
Uckelmann, Marion (2011a). "Found, lost and Found again". Rethinking Pitt Rivers. Pitt Rivers Museum. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
Uckelmann, Marion (2011b). "The Function of Bronze Age Shields". Warfare in Bronze Age Europe: Manufacture and use of weaponry. Oxford, Archaeopress. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
External links
The South Cadbury Bronze Age Shield, Museum of Somerset.
South Cadbury Shield.
County Antrim specimen.
The Hunt Museum (enter "Yetholm" in Keyword in Description).
Image from Archaeologia Scotica circa 1871.
Archaeologia Scotica, See: Notes on Ancient Shields and Highland Targets..., JAMES DRUMMOND, 1871 (PDF).
British museum.
Late Bronze Age shield from Beith, Ayrshire, c 1300–1100 BC, bronze
Bronze Age shield, from Sutton, Norfolk.
Needham, Stuart & Northover, Peter & Ucklemann, Marion & Tabor, Richard. (2012). South Cadbury: The last of the Bronze shields?. Archaologisches Korrespondenzblatt. 42. 473.
January 21, 2023
yetholm, type, shield, distinctive, type, shield, dating, from, 1200, bronze, known, shields, come, from, britain, ireland, excepting, from, denmark, their, modern, name, comes, from, yetholm, southern, scotland, where, peat, yielded, three, examples, twenty, . The Yetholm type shield is a distinctive type of shield dating from 1200 800 BC Bronze Age The known shields come from Britain and Ireland excepting one from Denmark Their modern name comes from Yetholm in southern Scotland where a peat bog yielded three examples Twenty two examples are known although some of these are fragmentary and a further seven or eight are known from written sources but are lost today 1 The shields vary significantly in size but are otherwise similar the Rhyd y gors Shield a Yetholm type shield British Museum Rock carvings from this period made in Southern Scandinavia include depictions of shields decorated with concentric rings or rings of dots The artist could not hope to show the fine detail of a Yetholm type shield but the similarity is striking The impressive shields would have indicated high social status 1 Contents 1 Construction 2 Variations 3 References 3 1 Notes 3 2 General references 4 External linksConstruction EditThe shields are made of a copper alloy sheet about 0 6 mm thick The alloy is a high tin bronze copper with 11 14 tin They are round with a central domed boss created by hammering out from the back The shield face is covered in raised ridges in concentric rings each a couple of millimetres high Between the ridges are rings of small hemispherical bosses about 4 mm across Decoration was formed by hammering from the reverse Repousse The outer edge of the shield has been folded back and hammered down to form a strong rim A handle is riveted across the open bowl of the boss made from a thicker piece of sheet bronze folded over also attached are a pair of metal tabs for a carrying strap Rivet heads are on the front for fitting attachments but are similar to the decorative raised bosses and difficult to identify Probably a flanged punch created the bosses to a uniform size and depth although no contemporary tool has been found to accomplish this The embossing would probably require the work piece to be supported conceivably by a bed of pitch or lead Some eye judgement was required which is revealed in the detail of the spacing of the bosses As the craftsman came to complete a ring the spacing would be changed slightly so as to ensure an even design and make the starting place inconspicuous The shields show a high degree of accomplishment and given the degree of similarity it is likely that all were made in the same workshop by a few craftsmen Variations Edit Yetholm type shield from South Cadbury Displayed at Museum of Somerset Taunton The shields vary in size and in the number of embossed rings but the size of the embossed features is consistent The largest shield found at Ayrshire has twenty nine circular ridges and twenty nine rings of bosses the smallest originally thought to have been from County Antrim but actually from The River Thames has eleven ridges and rings 1 The overall design and especially the tabs indicate that the shield did not have a wooden backing or other reinforcement though one shield from Lough Gur is believed to have been backed with leather which was initially written off as dried peat The embossed design and folded rim impart some stiffness but some have suggested that the shields were too flimsy for combat In a 1952 archaeology experiment by John Coles a reconstruction was made from copper hardened to match a Yetholm type shield and it was hit with a replica bronze sword The shield was cut in two by a single stroke However experiments by Barry Molloy and Kate Anderson 2 have pointed out that bronze the original material used is substantially harder than even the hardened copper used by Coles and that he appears to have used a much thinner sheet of copper than in the original designs 3 Additional design features such as small handles with only about 110 mm for the fingers to grip have also been cited as evidence that the shields were not used for combat 3 Some shields have damage likely to have occurred as a part of a sacrificial ceremony The South Cadbury specimen was laid in a ditch and stabbed three times with a wooden stake 4 Its discovery prompted metallurgical analysis of this and other examples by Peter Northover strongly suggesting that rather than the accepted range of 1000 to 800 BC these shields were manufactured in the 12th century BC Carbon dating implied that the South Cadbury example was deposited in the mid 10th century BC 5 The Wittenham shield showing perforations that may have been caused by a spearhead However one shield from Long Wittenham in Oxfordshire has two lozenge shaped perforations interpreted as piercings caused by a spearhead and other piercings hammered flat to close the gap suggesting that the shield was a veteran of several combat encounters With the exception of the specimen found at South Cadbury by archaeologist Josh Williams 6 all were found in wet contexts They formed part of a widespread practice of placing valuable objects in wet places 1 Presumably this practice was motivated by religious beliefs the details of which are unknown although other ancient societies such as the Celts had similar practices References EditNotes Edit a b c d Uckelmann 2011a Northover in Needham et al 2012 pp 482 483 a b Uckelmann 2011b p 195 Richard Osgood Britain in the age of warrior heroes British Archaeology Retrieved 1 September 2007 Tabor 2008 pp 84 92 Tabor 2008 p 86 General references Edit Needham Stuart P Northover Peter Uckelmann Marion Tabor Richard 2012 South Cadbury The Last of the Bronze Age Shields Archaeologishes Korrespondenblatt 42 4 ISSN 0342 734X Coles J M Leach P Minnitt S C Tabor R Wilson A S 1999 A Later Bronze Age Shield from South Cadbury Somerset England Antiquity Antiquity vol 73 279 73 279 33 48 doi 10 1017 S0003598X00087822 ISSN 0003 598X Coles John Minnitt Stephen Wilson Andrew 2000 Ceremony and Display The South Cadbury Bronze Age Shield Somerset County Museums Service ISBN 978 0 86183 354 2 Tabor Richard 2008 Cadbury Castle A hillfort and landscapes Stroud The History Press ISBN 978 0 7524 4715 5 Uckelmann Marion 2011a Found lost and Found again Rethinking Pitt Rivers Pitt Rivers Museum Retrieved 14 February 2012 Uckelmann Marion 2011b The Function of Bronze Age Shields Warfare in Bronze Age Europe Manufacture and use of weaponry Oxford Archaeopress Retrieved 14 February 2012 External links EditThe South Cadbury Bronze Age Shield Museum of Somerset South Cadbury Shield County Antrim specimen The Hunt Museum enter Yetholm in Keyword in Description Image from Archaeologia Scotica circa 1871 Archaeologia Scotica See Notes on Ancient Shields and Highland Targets JAMES DRUMMOND 1871 PDF A Later Bronze Age shield from South Cadbury Somerset England British museum Late Bronze Age shield from Beith Ayrshire c 1300 1100 BC bronze Bronze Age shield from Sutton Norfolk Needham Stuart amp Northover Peter amp Ucklemann Marion amp Tabor Richard 2012 South Cadbury The last of the Bronze shields Archaologisches Korrespondenzblatt 42 473 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Yetholm type shield amp oldid 1099382569, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
