How late were 'Celtic' shields with a central spine used?

[Imperial Dave]

as per the title, any attested evidence or reasonable idea as to how long these type of shields were used especially in Western Europe/Britain? Is it possible that Celtic central spined type shields were used later in the extreme West and Northern areas?

[Mick Hession]

There is no evidence for spiked shields in Ireland at all. The one extant Iron Age example, which I wrote about in Slingshot some years ago, is a small one of wood and leather like the Caledonian shields on the arch of Severus (at least I think that's where they are depicted...)

Cheers
Mick

[Duncan Head]

The defeated barbarian (German) on the stele of T Flavius Bassus has a spined shield in the later C1st AD.

[Imperial Dave]

thanks Duncan....do we think this could go later in Britain?

[Duncan Head]

I doubt it, the only British shields I know of that are spined are very early, and most of the examples from C1st BC or later seem to do without the spine. If there are any I can't think of them right now.

[Imperial Dave]

thanks Duncan, appreciated