A bronze age shield is finally returning to Scotland after more than 230 years!
Found in 1779 in a peat bog, following an excursion at Luggtonrigge Farm, just outside of Beith, the shield was presented to the Society of Antiquaries of London in 1791 by Dr Ferris (who acquired it from the Estate owner) where it has remained ever since.
The shield was one of five or six that were found, all of which had been buried upright. The shields had been arranged in a circle but only the current location of one is known. Even the exact location of Luggtonrigge Farm is unknown due to several farms sharing the name!
The shield measures about 60-70cm (23-27 inches) in diameter and is about 0.5mm thick, made from a single sheet of bronze. The shield is intricately designed: the face has 29 concentric rings, alternated with concentric ribs. The shield has some signs of damage.
There is debate as to whether the shield was purely ceremonial or if it was used in combat.
Previously thought to be purely ceremonial, recent experiments have shown that they would have been effective at deflecting sword and spear blows. Wooden or leather shields were more common and it is believed these rare bronze examples were not only for defence, but also symbolic of the status of the warriors who owned and used them.
The Beith shield is the largest of the ‘Yetholm’ type found in the UK, of which 22 have been found.
The shield is on loan and will be on display at National Museums Scotland as part of an exhibition entitled ‘Scotland’s First Warriors’ and will sit alongside 4 other shields found in Scotland, all of which are bronze-age. The exhibition is described as an opportunity to “Explore the first signs of organised warfare, from the Neolithic (late Stone Age) to the Romans, through over 250 objects. ‘Scotland’s First Warriors’ explores how and why people fought, the impact of war, and the legacy of prehistoric conflict. Internationally significant archaeological discoveries from Scotland will be on display for the first time.”
“The moment the sixth shield arrived back in Scotland and was unpacked at the National Museums Collection Centre was breathtaking. The Beith shield is such a spectacular, intricate object and thanks to the generosity of the Society of Antiquaries of London, this is the first time it has been seen in Scotland since its discovery over 200 years ago.“
– Dr Matthew Knight at National Museums Scotland
The exhibition opens on the 27th of June and will run until May, 2027 so make sure you take the opportunity to see it!
You can read about the exhibition and the shield at the National Museums Scotland website, you can read further about the Beith shield at the Society of Antiquaries and you can read more in this BBC article.
The Society of Antiquaries have a .PDF on the shield, which you can read HERE.