Celtic shield, 1st century BC
This Gallic warrior shield is intended to reconstruct equipment dating back to Julius Caesar’s wars of conquest of Gaul. Such a shield would have been used by Vercingetorix’s warriors as well as by the allies and auxiliaries of the Roman legions.
This reconstruction of a Celtic shield is rigorously based on available sources, in every aspect.
The oval shape is well-attested throughout the ancient world of the period, particularly in the Celtic world. The circular, hemispherical iron shield boss, secured with eight forged square-shanked nails, is taken from several finds from Gaul pertaining to the period of Caesar’s Gallic Wars.
The decoration was created following various decorative motifs, all consistent with archaeological finds from the Celtic world of the 1st century BC.
The two herons are taken from the decoration of a Celtic helmet now preserved at the National Museum of Slovenia in Ljubljana. The two torques depicted on the lower part of the shield are inspired by the numerous torques depicted on shields from the Arch of Orange (late 1st century BC).
Finally, the decoration along the edge is derived from the rich decoration of the imposing crest of the North Bersted helmet, dating to Caesar’s conquest of Gaul.
Although the helmet was found in Britain, scholars agree that the warrior who wore it was not a Briton. He must have actually been one of those Gallic warriors who, rather than submit to the Romans, decided to leave Gaul to continue their resistance against the invaders from Britain.
