Bronze shield

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This bronze shield is one of two found at Moss of Auchmaliddie at New Deer in Aberdeenshire. It was more ornamental than practical. The two shields were probably deposited in a watery area as gifts to the gods, sometime between 950 and 750 BC.

The shield is decorated with two concentric hammered-up ribs surrounding four meander ribs (two continuous, two open). The central circular boss has a grip riveted to the shield underneath on the back.

Late Bronze Age shields, with cauldrons and buckets, represent the pinnacle of the sheet bronze worker's craft. These shields were beaten out from a solid cake of bronze. They were display objects, probably used in ritualised ceremonial conflict.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-034-424-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.DN 5
• Date: Between 950 and 750 BC
  
• Material: Bronze; with raised lines in four groups
  Shield
  
• Dimensions: 18.25" D
  
• What: Shield
  
• Subject:
• Who: Bell Collection
  
• Where: Scotland, Aberdeenshire, New Deer, Mitchell Hill
  
• Event:
• Description: Bronze shield with raised lines in four groups, from Moss of Auchmaleddie, New Deer, Aberdeenshire
  
• References:
  • Coles, John M. Scottish late Bronze Age metalwork: typology, distributions and chronology. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 93 (1959-1960), pp 16-134, esp. pp 26, 88, 94. 
• Translations:
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