Hilt Guard

Object/Artifact

-

Trimontium Museum

Name/Title

Hilt Guard

Entry/Object ID

L.2021.29

Description

Copper alloy hilt guard from the Roman site at Newstead

Use

The guard would be at the hilt of the sword, and was used to protect the sword user's hand.

Context

James Curle discovered Celtic swords in the pits at Trimontium along side the Roman swords. He attributes the style and simplicity of this guard to be a common design used by the Late Celtic people. British Celtic swords are rare to find due to the corrosion and rusting of their iron make in the acidic Scottish soil. The copper alloy make of the guard can survive the acidity of the soil, and therefore more sword guards are typically found then the swords.

Collection

National Museums Scotland

Category

Sword
Military Equipment & Weaponry

Acquisition

Accession

X.FRA 150

Source (if not Accessioned)

National Museums Scotland

Notes

Loan

Made/Created

Time Period

1st - 2nd century

Ethnography

Cultural Region

Continent

Europe

Culture/Tribe

Celtic

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Guard, Sword

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Guard, Weapon

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Armament Accessories

Nomenclature Class

Armaments

Nomenclature Category

Category 05: Tools & Equipment for Science & Technology

Getty AAT

Concept

sword guards

Other Names and Numbers

Other Number

I 15-6

Material

Copper alloy

Color

Gold

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

James Curle

Related Publications

Publication

A Roman Frontier Post and Its People

Web Links and URLs

James Curle's mention of the hilt guard, page 185-187.

Provenance

Provenance Detail

1905 - 1911 Excavations

Acquisition Method

Found

Exhibition

Permanent Exhibition

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Exhibition Caption

Label

Cavalrymen used a long slashing sword (spatha). Fragments of such swords from Trimontium include hilt guards based on local styles. Were these locals serving with the army? Or were they battle honours for troops involved in the conquest?