s. At a range of 7 meters,Massey argues that arrowheads seemed to penetrate this armor type one out of every twooccasions. He suggests that this may occur due to the shape of the scales and the way in whichthe scales have been assembled. Presumably the changing conditions of the test would alsoaffect the frequency of penetration. Further, it is concluded that tests indicated that when scalearmor had been strengthened by wiring in a series of horizontal rows, none of the knowncontemporary arrow types could penetrate it, although the scales were severely deformed. Amodern parallel would be modern body armor (kevlar), which will stop some bullets however,the impact may nonetheless cause severe trauma such as internal hemorrhaging. Archaeological finds appear to indicate that this type of armor was used much more widelythan the surviving sculptures suggest, although only fragments of the armor survive. Despitethis evidence the use of lorica squamatae does not appear to have been as extensive as mail.Peterson suggests that the sculptured record indicates that lorica squamata was largely theexclusive equipment of centurions and high-ranking officers between the 1st and 2nd centuriesA.D.. Mail was also known as lorica hamata by the Romans. It is generally accepted that theRomans acquired their knowledge of mail-making from the Celts, who were the originalfabricators of this form of armor. Mail consists of metal rings, each one linked through fourothers, two in the row above it and two below. The fine mail of the 1st century could be madefrom bronze or iron rings measuring as little as 3mm in diameter. Only fragments of mail existin the archaeological record but the sculptured record indicates that there were many variationsof lorica hamata. The method of construction of mail rings in Roman times is similar to that oflater periods. Warry says that mail could be made from rings of two sorts: solid rings or opened,linked rings which cou...
