„The shape immediately triggered a clear association. I remembered the shape of this object from drawings, archaeological research,“ the man said.
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The director of the Hrubieszów Museum, Bartłomiej Bartecki, explained that this was one of the main elements of a shield used in the 2nd century, protecting the warrior’s hand.
„It is a bowl-shaped piece carved from a single piece of iron, fitted in the very center of the wooden shield. The hand was hidden inside it. The spike at the front served not only a decorative but also offensive and defensive function – it could be used to strike an opponent.
Such types of umbos, or central iron shield parts, are primarily known from the graves of Vandal warriors.“
The Vandals were a Germanic tribe living in the current Hrubieszów and Lublin region in the 1st and 2nd centuries. Some archaeologists believe that their warrior burials may be related to the war between the Goths and Vandals at the end of the 2nd century.
The man who found the artifact himself said that he came to the scrap metal yard for a completely different reason.
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„I usually look for motorcycle parts. That time I was already about to leave, but I decided to look around a bit more. Among old tools and screws, I saw this object. I recognized the shape, but I did not expect to find such a discovery here. If you have seen it even once, it is hard to confuse it with anything else.“
After photographing the find, he immediately sent the photos to the museum director. After receiving confirmation, he took the find straight from the scrap metal yard to the museum.
According to B. Bartecki, the artifact is affected by high temperature. Vandal warriors were cremated on a pyre after death along with their weapons, shields, and other equipment.
Burnt bone fragments were also found in the discovered shield part. The find will now be restored and conserved, and later will enrich the collection of the Hrubieszów Museum.
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