Protecting the Body in War and Combat
Metal Body Armour in Bronze Age Europe
by Marianne Modlinger
This monograph provides for the first time a combined overview of all classes of metal body armour from the European Bronze Age in a holistic perspective, combining discussion of both traditional typo-chronologies and aspects of manufacture and use. The earliest metal body armour recovered comes from Dendra, Greece, and dates to the first half of the 15th century BC. However, the majority of metal body armour, including helmets, cuirasses and greaves, derives from the European Late Bronze Age, c. 1200-950 BC. This armour has been found from Iberia in the west to Cyprus in the east, and from Sicily in the south to Denmark in the north, as well as in the Near East. It thus derives from a wide geographical study area. Nevertheless, only around 30 cuirasses, 75 greaves and 120 helmets have so far been recovered. The development, manufacture and use of this metal body armour across Europe remains unclear, even after more than a century of research. Earlier studies were largely concerned with typo-chronological aspects of this armour, whilst topics such as manufacturing techniques, efficacy and technological observations were rarely addressed. This volume therefore brings together both traditional artefact and metallurgical studies, as well as reconstructions of manufacturing techniques, technological developments and innovations and use-wear analysis. The monograph also provides much-needed detail concerning material characterisation, in the form of alloy composition and microstructure analysis of a significant sample of the original finds. Combining the results of this with the study of the manufacturing techniques and use-wear traces, a better understanding of how this armour was both produced and used is achieved. The author documented, studied and analysed all accessible helmets, greaves and cuirasses in eastern Europe as well as a number of examples from western Europe, significantly increasing the quantity of body armour studied and analysed in detail. The publication contains the whole spectrum of known body armour currently recovered, as well as including new finds from auctions or private collections, which have previously been overlooked. The present volume offers a holistic artefact study of European Bronze Age body armour, its manufacture and usage. It serves as a basis for further experimental studies into the production and utility of bronze helmets, cuirasses and greaves, which will deliver further important insights into the role that this armour played in Bronze Age life, especially in its practical, utilitarian function.
This monograph provides for the first time a combined overview of all classes of metal body armour from the European Bronze Age in a holistic perspective, combining discussion of both traditional typo-chronologies and aspects of manufacture and use. The earliest metal body armour recovered comes from Dendra, Greece, and dates to the first half of the 15th century BC. However, the majority of metal body armour, including helmets, cuirasses and greaves, derives from the European Late Bronze Age, c. 1200-950 BC. This armour has been found from Iberia in the west to Cyprus in the east, and from Sicily in the south to Denmark in the north, as well as in the Near East. It thus derives from a wide geographical study area. Nevertheless, only around 30 cuirasses, 75 greaves and 120 helmets have so far been recovered. The development, manufacture and use of this metal body armour across Europe remains unclear, even after more than a century of research. Earlier studies were largely concerned with typo-chronological aspects of this armour, whilst topics such as manufacturing techniques, efficacy and technological observations were rarely addressed. This volume therefore brings together both traditional artefact and metallurgical studies, as well as reconstructions of manufacturing techniques, technological developments and innovations and use-wear analysis. The monograph also provides much-needed detail concerning material characterisation, in the form of alloy composition and microstructure analysis of a significant sample of the original finds. Combining the results of this with the study of the manufacturing techniques and use-wear traces, a better understanding of how this armour was both produced and used is achieved. The author documented, studied and analysed all accessible helmets, greaves and cuirasses in eastern Europe as well as a number of examples from western Europe, significantly increasing the quantity of body armour studied and analysed in detail. The publication contains the whole spectrum of known body armour currently recovered, as well as including new finds from auctions or private collections, which have previously been overlooked. The present volume offers a holistic artefact study of European Bronze Age body armour, its manufacture and usage. It serves as a basis for further experimental studies into the production and utility of bronze helmets, cuirasses and greaves, which will deliver further important insights into the role that this armour played in Bronze Age life, especially in its practical, utilitarian function.
- By (author) Marianne Modlinger
Other Titles in this Series
Policies of Exchange. Political Systems and Modes of Interaction in the Aegean and the Near East in the 2nd Millenium B.C.E
Proceedings of the International Symposium at the University of Freiburg Institute for Archaeological Studies, 30th May - 2nd June 2012
Volume 2
The Early Iron Age at Tell Abu al-Kharaz, Jordan Valley
Tradition, Innovation and Intercultural Relations in the Eastern Mediterranean around 1100 BC
Volume 16
Landscape Archaeology in Southern Caucasia. Finding Common Ground in Diverse Environments
Proceedings of the Workshop held at 10th ICAANE in Vienna, April 2016
Archaologie und Republik
Reflexionen zur Archaologie in Osterreich in der Ersten und Zweiten Republik
Volume 28
Archaeology of Central Asia during the 1st millennium BC, from the Beginning of the Iron age to the Hellenistic period
Proceedings from the Workshop held at 10th ICAANE
Volume 18
Archaeology across Frontiers and Borderlands
Fragmentation and Connectivity in the North Aegean and the Central Balkans from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age
Volume 9
The Archaeology of the Arabian Peninsula 2
Connecting the Evidence. Proceedings of the International Workshop held at the 10th International Congress on the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East in Vienna on April 25, 2016
Volume 19
Platia Magoula Zarkou. The Neolithic Period
Environment, Stratigraphy and Architecture, Chronology, Tools, Figurines and Ornaments
Volume 23
The Central/Western Anatolian Farming Frontier
Proceedings of the Neolithic Workshop held at 10th ICAANE in Vienna, April 2016
Volume 12
Ancient Lagash
Current Research and Future Trajectories: Proceedings of the Workshop held at the 10th ICAANE in Vienna, April 2016
Volume 24
Human Iconography and Symbolic Meaning in Near Eastern Prehistory
Proceedings of the Workshop held at 10th ICAANE in Vienna, April 2016
Volume 11
Textile Workers
Skills, Labour and Status of Textile Craftspeople Between the Prehistoric Aegean and the Ancient Near East
Volume 13
Votive Deposits in Early Dynastic Temples
Proceedings of the Workshop held at the 10th ICAANE in Vienna, April 2016
Volume 27
Punta di Zambrone I
1200 B.C.E. - A Time of Breakdown, a Time of Progress in Southern Italy and Greece
Volume 17
Formation, Organisation and Development of Iron Age Societies. A Compartive View
Proceedings of the Workshop held at the 10th ICAANE in Vienna, April 2016
Volume 15
The Archaeology of North Arabia. Oases and Landscapes
Proceedings of the International Congress held at the University of Vienna, 5-8 December, 2013
Volume 4
Old Excavation Data. What can we do?
Proceedings of the Workshop held at the 10th ICAANE in Vienna, April 2016
Volume 16
Western Anatolia before Troy. Proto-Urbanisation in the 4th Millenium BC?
Proceedings of the International Symposium held at the Kunsthistorisces Museum Wien Vienna, Austria, 21-24 November, 2012
Volume 1
The Ancient Throne
The Mediterranean, Near East, and Beyond, from the 3rd Millenium BCE to the 14th Century CE
Volume 14
Cukurici Hoyuk 2
Das 5. und das 4. Jahrtausend v. Chr. in Westanatolien und der Ostagais. Mit einem Beitrag von Barbara Horejs
Volume 7
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