What it is: A wooden and leather shield used by a Roman soldier in battle Where it is from: Dura-Europos, Syria When it was made: Second century A.D. Related: Babylonian tablet preserves student's ...

Image caption, Re-enactors with Roman shields. Legionaries signed up for at least 25 years' service. But if they survived their time, they were rewarded with a gift of land they could farm.

It is thought that this panel was originally part of a Roman shield, as indicated by the curved edges and central indentation where a shield boss could have been originally placed. Shields would ...