Battersea Shield
The Battersea Shield is a sheet bronze shield dating to circa 300 BC. It was dredged from the River Thames in the UK, and probably was deposited as a ritual gift to the spirits of the River, as were many other pieces of bronze, iron work and human skulls that have found themselves into the Thames and other rivers.
The Shield is decorated with repoussé decoration and enamel. The decoration is typically Celtic in terms of art style consisting of circles and spirals.
It has been suggested it was a decorative piece and would not have been an effective shield in combat.
See also La Tène culture.
