Battersea Shield
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Photo of the shield(uncommented)[1] |
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Black&white photo(from the 1st century BC)[2] |
The Battersea Shield is a sheet bronze shield. It probably dates from the first century BC to early first century AD, though an earlier date is possible. Dates from 300BC have been suggested. It was dredged from the River Thames in the UK, and probably was deposited as a ritual gift to the spirits of the River, as were many other pieces of bronze, iron work and human skulls that found their way into the Thames and other rivers.
The Shield is decorated with repoussé decoration and enamel. The decoration is typically Celtic in terms of art style consisting of circles and spirals.
It has been suggested it was a decorative piece and would not have been an effective shield in combat. The metal plate of the shield that remains would have been fixed onto a plain, round wooden shield behind it.
The shield was discovered in 1857 and is on display in the British Museum.
