[Regia-NA] The Nasal: What's it for?

[rmhowe]

J K Siddorn wrote:
 > I've long been interested in cheek plates and do wonder why they went
 > out of fashion. They were good enough for the Roman Army, make sound
 > common sense, don't get in the way of your sight or hearing, are
 > easily held in place with the chin strap and are not uncomfortable to
 > wear.
 >
 > - and they are a great comfort when someone is trying to take your
 > head off!
 >
 > Any thoughts??
 >
 > Regards,
 >
 > Kim Siddorn, Regia Anglorum

Anglo-Saxons (Germans) have unusually heavy jaw bones in some cases.
I R one of these. Some curve out at the bottom, something I believe
mine does due to a lifetime of heavy biting. It amazed one dentist
I had. Moight have been harder to chop through. Tongue in cheek here.
:)

Besides no one gives the Saxons much credit in their early years
for artistic taste. One English archaeologist commented that the early
Saxon Saucer Brooch looks ever so much like a dirty ash tray in
excavations. Upon reflection (and having an article or two on
their construction (Evison I think) I can see his point.
It took some several centuries for them to develop into a
real civilization with art. Granted they were bears for battle.
However, I cannot recall the early saxons ever having particularly
noice armour with the exception of Sutton Hoo, which might very
well be related to the Vendel Culture (and antiquities) from
Sweden. Unless your archaeologists have come up with some divergent
opinions I haven't read since on the matter.

It could simply be that Saxons and Angles never developed the
style in Germany and came west that way pushed by the expansion
of the Huns. Granted the other central European cultures often
had the post-Roman Spangenhelm with cheek plates but there are
so few survivals excepting rich ones it is very hard to judge
adequately. If in period, as I have seen estimated there is
only about 5 - 5 1/2 pounds of iron average per person for tools
and such (discounting the figure that it took 48 tons of oak
to make the charcoal to make one ton of metal) a helmet is
a mighty fine thing indeed.

It sorta appeared to me all the nice stuff is lying in shallow
bogs like Illerup Adal. Something to drift over in a boat
and wonder at but to be sacrificed but not imitated or worn.
I get about half the Roman Army books put out on the arms and
armour.

Magnus