The Vikings . Fierce warriors from northern Europe famous for their many conquests, travels and their propensity for violence who in addition to using swords in all their battles and confrontations, they also used large leather covered shields, but why? We reveal the surprising reason below.
Why did the Vikings cover their shields with leather? There is a “technical” reason
Until recently, historians and experts on Viking customs and life thought that the leather coating on Viking shields was only used for cosmetic purposes , but new research appears to have claimed otherwise. In fact, the coating was claimed to increase strength and improve the structural integrity of the shield in question.
The Viking defense tool par excellence was built with thin wooden plates arranged in a circle that could have dimensions of between 45 and 90 centimeters in diameter . In the center there was an iron dome that was used to protect the warrior’s hand; this part was called the “boss” and curiously it was the only one that has often survived in time and has been more studied by experts.
When the shield was made, it was covered on the front with leather, so that it could be even stronger, as it hardened and shrunk. The finding has arisen as a result of a group of experts having carried out a microanalysis of samples of four shields dating from 350 BC. C. to 1000 d. C., all from archaeological finds in Scandinavia . Three of these shields were protected with cowhide, while the most recent had one covered with sheepskin.
The study revealed that the leather was completely covering the pieces, but that the Vikings had an impact on placing more leather on the edges of the shield in order to be able to deflect or resist the sharp attacks of bladed weapons. On the other hand, it seems that the use of sheepskin was a change introduced over time when realizing that the skin of this animal weighed less and made the shield lighter than if it was covered with cowhide. However, as the samples analyzed by the study are currently small, experts cannot say for sure so future studies could provide conclusive results regarding this curious technique now revealed.