DCMatt said:
OK, I'm still having trouble believing these metal thingies could be armor scales. Who was still wearing this type of armor in the date range you mention? I'm not an expert, but seems like most armor was abandoned within a few decades of the invention of the rifle.
But after poking around the internet for a while (and finding a fairly significant subculture of people who are WAY into recreating this stuff) I found several examples of scale armor plates consistant with the shape and hole pattern of the ones you found.
HOWEVER, these examples all seem to be at least 500 years older than the earliest possible discovery or habitation of your island.
Any chance there were reenactments done or movies made at the site?
Its a mystery...
DCMatt
Great research. Its interesting that there are both flat and curved plates and one of mine is flat and one slightly concave, very much like the illustration.
I followed up and came across an article in which this tupe of armour was discovered in Jamestown. Here is an excerpt discussing the Jamestown find.
"Evidence of plate armor, such as breastplates and backplates, being cut up into small squares for jacks has been found in other pits at the fort site that date to 1610 or earlier, so it's possible that the jack was made in Jamestown.... Jacks of plate were made by quilting small overlapping squares of iron between two pieces of canvas. These garments, weighing about 17 pounds, were lighter and more flexible than solid breastplates. They also allowed soldiers with firearms to rest the butts of their weapons firmly against their shoulders, which was not possible with the smooth surface of plate armor.
Bly Straube, curator, said jacks of plate were primarily used in England in the 15th and 16th centuries. In 1622, the king sent a supply of armor including jacks of plate to Jamestown. By then, the jacks were considered "obsolete" in England, but they were still considered useful to the Jamestown colonists for protection against Indian attacks."
I find the sentence regarding use of the plates so the musket could be "butted" against the shoulder interesting, especially since the plates were found within a couple of feet from some musket parts.
Also, Columbus was in the general area of my site in 1502, so the dates are possible. Nonetheless, they just don't look that old to my unexpert eye. And the island has some unbelievably beautiful scenery for movies, although the items were found interminbgled with the older items and in an area that would not be terribly likely for movies. The piece of ground where they were found was not easily accessible unless you are a bit of a stunt man.
I am getting an education from this mystery. Thanks to all.
