File:Lorica Segmenta shoulder hinge (FindID 925427).jpg

English: A corroded copper-alloy hinged fitting with some iron plate from the shoulder plates of Corbridge type lorica segmentata armour dating to the first or second centuries AD.

Description: The fitting comprises two flat copper-alloy plates sandwiching a fragment of the plate iron. The plates have a rectangular body and a T shape arm, the insets between the rectangular arm and the horizontal T bar are concave. The fitting possesses four rivets, two on the main body of the plate and two at the corners of the horizontal T-bar. There is slight concavature on the outside edge of the horizontal t bar with a slight knop in the middle which may indicate a fifth rivet point, now snapped away in a manner seen on the more lobate styles of lorrica hinges such as <a href="https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/516435">SUSS-A76582</a>. All the remaining rivet holes contain rivets which hold the two plates and the central iron plate together. This suggests that hinge assembly went into the ground attached to at least part of the armour. The pin which held these two plates to a corresponding set of plates on the next segment of armour to form the hinge remains through the remains of the hinge knuckle, iron corrosion obscures where part of the corresponding knuckle remains. The plates are a mottled light-mid green, with the iron elements heavily rusted and a dark brown to light orange colour, this rust staining creeps over other parts of the plate.

Measurements: 21.09mm long, 17.96mm wide, 6.64mm thick and 5.18g in weight.

Discussion: Lorica Segmentata "laminated" type body armour was adopted by the Roman Legions in the early part of the First Century AD and was in use into the early third Century AD, when it fell out of favour. Similar types are illustrated from Sheepen by Bishop and Coulston (2006) Roman Military equipment, p 99.