European Bronze Age Perforated Shield Boss

The Bronze Age, as its name suggests, is a historical period characterised by an extensive use of bronze. It is also known for its use of writing, with cultures such as the Near East and Egypt being the first to develop practical writing systems, and other features of early urban civilisation. The beginning of the Bronze Age differed from region to region and culture to culture, as it was heavily dependent on the discovery of tin mining, smelting, and its combination with hot copper. The result was a hardier and more durable metal, allowing Bronze Age civilisations to transition away from stone tools to metal tools. However, tin was not abundantly available, possibly limiting the use of bronze to the upper classes. Many bronze pieces have been found alongside gold items in the wealthiest burials of warriors and princes from the period. Shield bosses have been among those bronze pieces recovered from these burials. They were placed at the centre of round shields and were originally intended to deflect the blows to the shield. Over time, they became more elaborate and eventually more of a decorative feature.