Kiltubrid Shield

The Kiltubbrid Shield is an ancient Middle Ages wooden shield from Ireland. It was discovered during the 19th century in the townland and parish of Kiltubbrid, county Leitrim, and is perhaps perhaps the only perfect article of this description found in the Europe. It dates from the late Celtic (La Tène) period.

The Kiltubbrid shield is a remarkably well preserved example of an ancient Irish wooden shield. It was discovered in 1863, buried 3 metres (9.8 ft) deep in a turf bog, at Kiltubbrid townland and just north of Lough Scur. The shield is a perfect specimen, oval in shape, with a perfect central boss 7.6 centimetres (3.0 in) high, and seven slightly raised concentric circles (ribs), plain on the reverse, with a handle, the whole carved out of one piece of wood. The original measurements were 66 centimetres (26.0 in) in height by 53 centimetres (20.9 in) in width, with a thickness of 1.25 centimetres (0.5 in). The ribs show an indentation at one side, but shrinkage may have caused the indentation. Unlike ancient classic shields, through which the forearm was passed, the Irish wooden shield, grasped by the cross-piece underneath the umbo (boss), could be projected to full arm's length during battle. The wood was probably Alder. Ancient Irish shields were often covered with leather, so this shield was probably painted and decorated.

Ruaidhrí Ó Flaithbheartaigh stated in Ogygia (1685) that the Irish name for alder was Fearn, because "shields are made of it". The Irish word ' sciath,' i. e. shield, is more recently applied to a shallow wicker basket, of oval shape — sometimes called a skib — ' used for straining potatoes, and which closely resembles in size and form of the Kiltubbrid wooden shield.

Killtubrid wood shield, 1st illustration

Battle scene: Warriors & shields. Christian period

Killtubrid wood shield, 2nd illustration

Killtubrid shield, 3rd illustration

The toughness and density of the alder would, in itself, be a firm defence against the thrusts of swords, if not spears, though shields of wood, half an inch thick would have been quite useless against the Roman javelins. The central illustration above represents the (supposed) Battle scene sculptured on a stone cross in Kells, County Meath. The original, about 1.2 metres (3 ft 11.2 in) long, evidently depicts a conflict between different tribes or cultures; one armed with long-handled spears and circular bossed-shields, the opposing warrior shields have no boss, and are armed with short swords, of a kind often found on crannogs and first adopted with the introduction of iron as a primary material for weapons of warfare.

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