2,000-Year-Old Celtic Shield Found in Thames
The Battersea Shield, a 2,000-year-old bronze shield facing, was discovered in the River Thames in 1857 and features Celtic-style decorations, including 27 circular decorations filled with red glass enamel and bronze in the shape of swastikas
A 2,000-year-old Celtic shield, known as the Battersea Shield, was discovered in the River Thames in 1857. The shield is a bronze facing made between 350 and 50 B.C. and features Celtic-style decorations.
The shield is about 30.6 inches long and 14 inches wide, and it weighs roughly 7.5 pounds. It features 27 circular decorations filled with red glass enamel and bronze in the shape of swastikas, which were symbols of good luck in ancient Celtic culture.
The shield likely predates the invasion of Rome, which occurred in 55 and 54 B.C. and again in A.D. 43. Archaeologists believe that the shield may have been thrown into the Thames as a ritual sacrifice, as it shows no signs of use.
The British Museum acquired the shield directly from the construction worker who found it in 1857. The shield is made of several pieces of sheet bronze fastened together with rivets, and would have originally been affixed to a wooden or leather base to create a substantial shield.
## Why it matters The discovery of the Battersea Shield provides valuable insights into the culture and traditions of the ancient Celts. The shield's Celtic-style decorations, including the circular decorations filled with red glass enamel and bronze in the shape of swastikas, suggest that it was made in Britain and not imported from another Celtic culture.
The fact that the shield shows no signs of use and may have been thrown into the Thames as a ritual sacrifice raises interesting questions about the beliefs and practices of the ancient Celts. The shield is now housed at the British Museum, where it remains an important artifact for understanding the history and culture of the ancient Celts.
The Battersea Shield is a significant find, not only because of its age and historical significance but also because of the insights it provides into the culture and traditions of the ancient Celts. As a ritual sacrifice, the shield may have been thrown into the Thames to appease the gods or to mark an important event, and its discovery has shed new light on the practices and beliefs of the ancient Celts.
