Viking historical leather-covered shield Low-poly 3D model

cgtrader

Hello there! Check out this historical Viking leather-covered shield here - a traditional round shield with a steel boss, bolted steel rim, and a grip wrapped in tough leather plus an adjustable arm strap for secure carry. During the Viking age, fierce fighters wielded big, sturdy wooden shields centered from behind an iron core, clutched tight to their chests. Shields reveal just one instance where written descriptions clash with the remains dug up by archaeologists on how Viking warriors made their arsenal. The Norwegian Gulaathing and Frostaathing laws specify exactly how a shield is constructed. A solid piece of wood should be encircled by three sturdy iron bands, while the handle fastened to its rear should be nailed in place using thick metal rivets. Later versions of these ancient codes decree that shields must be built with two boards placed back-to-back and painted in bold red and white stripes. Fortunately for history buffs, some remarkably intact shields from the Viking era have been recovered, including the ones from a majestic ship called Gokstad that dates all the way back to the 10th century AD. The boat carried 32 massive shields in total, with several preserved near perfectly - crafted with planks placed tightly together, without any reinforcing metal strips at all. Oddly enough, they sported bold black and yellow patterns painted across their faces.\nOn average, classic Viking shields measured between 80 to 90 cm (32-36 inches) across. But others were way bigger, such as those shield pieces recovered from Gokstad ships that measured an impressive 94 cm wide (37 inches). Studies also suggest that a few shields may have been roughly 70cm (28inches) in diameter. Logic dictates that when making one of these vital fighting tools for oneself, a warrior should design it to fit his physique and battling style precisely - strong enough to deflect the opponent's blows safely yet light and manageable at all times.\nEach remaining shield is crafted from unjoined solid wooden planks although the accounts left by poets and chroniclers tell a different story. A particularly interesting one - written almost 1000 years ago, hints that shields could be built with laminated layers of wood as depicted in certain illustrations. Nonetheless, despite ample proof suggesting such techniques existed at the time, absolutely no shred of actual Viking remains shows any evidence of this practice in action.\nShield craftsmen in days of old favored woods like spruce and pine to build these indispensable defensive tools, which might come as a surprise considering written descriptions stating that shields were instead fashioned from linden trees. That notion is not only contradictory but also based on incomplete knowledge since many details about actual construction procedures have vanished over time, leaving historians confused. For all we know today, shields did in fact feature this specific type of wood for obvious reasons - they weigh very little yet do not tend to split easily when subjected to forceful impacts, providing maximum protection and comfort during battles raging fiercely beneath blazing sunlight.