CELTIC BRONZE SHIELD BOSS, 1000-700 BC

British Isles. See Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, AN1980.212 and British Archaeology for a bronze shield mounted with four similar bosses. The writer states that it was light weight, probably for display or a votive and that fighting shields were wood. This fitting would have served as the anchor on the front of a wood fighting shield for the steel pin which mounted the enarmes (arm strap) on the back. It is just under 1 1/2” diameter of conical form with hollow back with fine patina.