The Iron Age shield that hides a secret menagerie of beasts
In short: The Witham Shield appears to be a simple collection of swirls, but it actually conceals a complex series of birds and animals. Curator Julia Farley explains how Iron Age Britons crafted these hidden figures, including a surprisingly large boar that nearly vanished from history.
The Witham Shield, a masterpiece of British Iron Age craftsmanship, was recovered from the River Witham in 1826. While the surface initially presents as abstract curls and patterns, closer examination reveals a deliberate arrangement of zoomorphic forms.
Among these hidden figures is a boar of significant scale, which remained largely overlooked for generations. This exploration by the British Museum highlights the technical skill and symbolic depth embedded in ancient metalwork, transforming our understanding of what appears to be mere decoration.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Hidden animals in Celtic Art | DECODED Ep 1 The Witham Shield
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