Rare Iberian shield found in La Vila

Fragments excavated at Villajoyosa�s Poble Nou archaeological site have been identified as part of an Iberian shield.

The dig in Villajoyosa [Credit: Ajuntament de la Vila Joiosa]

Their curved decorative lines led experts to suspect that the minute fragments were part of a weapon but their full significance emerged only during restoration.

Iberian shields were made of wood with a raised metal boss in the centre and a decorated metal rim.

Iberian warrior with sword and shield from bas-relief c. 200 BC 
[Credit: National Archaeological Museum of Spain, Madrid]

The now pieced-together fragments are clearly part of one of these rims of which there are only 13 known examples, said Fernando Quesada, a leading expert in Iberian weaponry.

It was common to bury an Iberian�s arms with him and other grave gifts found in the same burial place included a Greek perfume bottle, two drinking cups and bronze tweezers.

Source: Euro Weekly News [April 08, 2014]