Arm Guard - Manica

Object/Artifact

-

Trimontium Museum

Photo ©National Museums Scotland

Photo ©National Museums Scotland

Name/Title

Arm Guard - Manica

Entry/Object ID

X.FRA 116.2

Description

22 fragments of lamellar arm guard of bronze, from the Roman site at Newstead, Roxburghshire, 80 - 180 AD

Use

To protect the wearer's arm from trauma. Manicae were used by gladiators as well as legionaries.

Context

Discovered in the Principia in Chamber 5, three types of scale armor were found, the arm guard included. The pieces of bronze would have been tied together with leather. A single bronze scale was found near the Baths.

Collection

National Museums Scotland

Category

Armour
Military Dress & Armour

Acquisition

Accession

X.FRA 116.2

Source or Donor

National Museums of Scotland

Acquisition Method

Loan

Source (if not Accessioned)

National Museums of Scotland

Notes

Loan

Made/Created

Time Period

1st - 2nd century

Ethnography

Cultural Region

Continent

Europe

Culture/Tribe

Romano British

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Guard, Arm

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

bracers

Other Names and Numbers

Other Names

Name Type

Trimontium Loan Number

Other Name

L.2021.31

Other Numbers

Number Type

Previous Accession Number

Other Number

XII 14-145

Material

Bronze

Color

Brown, Green

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

Web Links and URLs

NMS Collections, James Curle's notes on the scale armor, page 158-159., Article: "Ancient Jigsaw puzzle is solved as rare Roman armour is reconstructed ahead of major exhibition"

Provenance

Provenance Detail

From the Roman Site at Newstead

Exhibition

Permanent Exhibition

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Exhibition Caption

Label

The legionary infantryman would be protected by a large rectangular shield, curved to protect his body, and wore various pieces of armour. Most important was the body armour which protected his torso and shoulders. It was made up of multiple iron plates fixed to leather straps, with brass buckles and hinges. This was highly flexible and offered excellent protection. Some infantrymen also wore a flexible arm guard, similarly made of metal strips of iron or brass, and metal greaves to protect their shins.