Apr 17, 2019 Rolf Warming All Posts, Combat Archaeology, Research, Uncategorized 4
Archaeologist Rolf Warming (SoCA) standing beside Denmark’s only surviving shield board from the Viking Age, the Trelleborg Shield (Photo: Jacob Nyborg Andreassen).
Numerous attempts have been made to reconstruct Viking Age round shields, this possibly being one of the most characteristic pieces of equipment carried by warriors of that period. Such reconstructions vary in quality, ranging from inexpensive plywood shields to expensive planked shields that have been constructed through painstaking efforts and attention to detail. In spite of such efforts, however, several important questions regarding Viking Age shield constructions have gone unanswered (especially regarding the use of hide in shields)– until now. A rigorous scientific study involving microanalyses has recently been undertaken by the Society for Combat Archaeology, School of Conservation and Aarhus University (Rolf Warming, René Larsen, Dorte Sommer, Luise Brandt, Xenia Pauli Jensen), revealing some of the final details regarding shield constructions in the Viking Age (Warming et al., forthcoming). This paper will be published later this year in the peer-reviewed archaeological journal, Germania: Römisch-germanische Kommission des Deutschen Archäologischen Institut.
Based on the newest research results, the Trelleborg Viking Fortress is, together with Society for Combat Archaeology, now launching the experimental archaeology project The Viking Shield: The First Authentic Viking Age Shield. The aim of the project is to produce the first fully authentic Viking Age round shield where all elements of the shield construction can be referenced to specific sources. The shield construction is also to be submitted to a series of tests involving authentic offensive weaponry, such as arrows, spears, swords and axes. The project is led by archaeologist Rolf Fabricius Warming (Society for Combat Archaeology), the lead author of the new research study.
Warming, R., Larsen, R. Sommer, D., Ørsted Brandt, L. & Pauli Jensen, X. Forthcoming. Shields and Hide: On the use of Hide in Germanic Shields of the Iron Age and Viking Age. Germania: Römisch-germanische Kommission des Deutschen Archäologischen Institut.
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Rolf is the founder of the Society for Combat Archaeology (SoCA). He holds an MA degree in Maritime Archaeology from the University of Southampton and another MA degree in Prehistoric Archaeology from the University of Copenhagen. His studies have preeminently been on the subject of combat and conflict in the past, ranging from Mesolithic violence to organized state formation in the Renaissance. He is currently a Ph.D. student at the Department of Archaeology and Classical Studies at Stockholm University and an affiliated Ph.D. researcher at the Swedish Defense University. In addition to his academic studies, Rolf has a background as a junior officer in the Royal Danish Army. He is also the chief instructor of the martial arts organization Weapons Combat Systems, teaching classes and seminars on an international level. In addition to this, Rolf is the chief instructor of Weapons Combat Systems, a weaponry-based martial art which he teaches on both a national and international level through classes, seminars, etc.
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Very cool research you are doing. I would like to get an MA in archaeology but I’m not sure which program would be good for me, as I live in Philadelphia and the only MA offered in the area is at the University of Pennsylvania . I didn’t know about maritime archaeology until today. I was going to be a diver in the U.S. Navy but they diagnosed me with bipolar disorder at boot camp and sent me home. I would still love to get my dive certificate and start excavating. I already have a B.A. in theatre with a minor in Spanish from the University of Georgia. I’m glad I stumbled upon your website. It’s cool to see that I’m not the only one who has an interest in past naval encounters.
Could you comment on the type/types of wood used for known/recovered shields, please? As different hides have vastly different properties, so does different types of wood. Also, some types of wood (generally trees) grow naturally in Scandinavia (during any arbitrary time frame) while others do not.
Thanks in advance
Adding to the above:
From the photo seen here: https://combatarchaeology.org/the-handle-of-the-viking-age-shield-from-trelleborg/
It seems the Trelleborg shield is rather thin, and also that it has been fragmented into unequal-width boards. If not too much to ask, could you comment on thickness, and width of boards? It would make sense to use (a) broad board(s) center and narrower boards toward edges (flexibility – to deflect better, and for durability: “Bend or break”).
Also, a note on how these boards are assumed to be held together would be highly appreciated. Glue/nails/joints/ – what/which type?
Joints reference, if interested: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodworking_joints
(Afterthought: It could look similar to hazel or cherry wood – which would be relatively hard woods. But then some could look like Ash, or it could be a combination – or, I could be entirely wrong. The handle seems to be a different type, I would suggest Fir/Spruce if not for the fact it’s so soft I doubt it would be well preserved. In any case – from the wood and woodwork alone it seems a rather expensive shield to manufacture, not likely for the common man.)
/bit of a wood nerd, I know.
Not sure my second comment made it to the server, so I’ll repeat it here. Sorry about any inconvenience, feel free to delete one or all:
Adding to the above:
From the photo seen here: https://combatarchaeology.org/the-handle-of-the-viking-age-shield-from-trelleborg/
It seems the Trelleborg shield is rather thin, and also that it has been fragmented into unequal-width boards. If not too much to ask, could you comment on thickness, and width of boards? It would make sense to use (a) broad board(s) center and narrower boards toward edges (flexibility – to deflect better, and for durability: “Bend or break”).
Also, a note on how these boards are assumed to be held together would be highly appreciated. Glue/nails/joints/ – what/which type?
Joints reference, if interested: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodworking_joints
(Afterthought: It could look similar to hazel or cherry wood – which would be relatively hard woods. But then some could look like Ash, or it could be a combination – or, I could be entirely wrong. The handle seems to be a different type, I would suggest Fir/Spruce if not for the fact it’s so soft I doubt it would be well preserved. In any case – from the wood and woodwork alone it seems a rather expensive shield to manufacture, not likely for the common man.)
/bit of a wood nerd, I know.