Awesome piece, I often wondered if we used any armor. All the movies have us running into battle wearing next to nothing sometimes. Now I feel more inspired to make my armor.
It's gnarly armor, hardwoods are surprisingly strong. The Aztecs Olmecs Toltecs etc and Apache used it too was fabric cotton slaked in lime in several layers like a kevlar vest that stopped arrows without fail it was also fireproof in case after the raid got they whacked on shrooms and fell into the fire :) I like your videos, really great stuff
@@MalcolmPL This is the first time I see lime being mentioned. Everywhere else I see only brine mentioned. Those armored vests are called ichcahuipilli.
4:43 this skirmisher loadout is pretty much my initial target for recreation. The wooden greaves seem like an easier first project than the traditional PNW slat armor, collar, and carved helmet combination
The greaves are pretty quick to make, but they require calculating some angles to fit the curve of the leg properly. I didn’t calculate it quite right, so they feel a little off. The full woven panels are pretty simple to make, but take a long time to weave. My full suit took over sixty hours to weave. I’m in awe of the skill that goes into the helmets and collars. So far above anything I’m capable of.
@@MalcolmPL The collars are made like we make our bentwood boxes. There's a very cool video from the 70s on youtube showing the process for making a bentwood box. Just take that process for making a square into making a circle. Still, the collar and helmet are definitely something I'm not gonna tackle until I've got my own workshop. I have built my first genuine war club in my people's style. Nothing fancy, but it makes an adequate fishing/hunting club or for a quick raid on the promenade.
Wearing some form of padding beneath hard armour is pretty much universal. For another example from the Americas, the Inca sported quilted cotton armour beneath a wood, copper, or bronze breastplate.
I was frustrated starting out at the lack of easy material on the subject. The point of the channel is to provide the sort of condensed accessible information that I wish had been available five or ten years ago. So that people like me don’t have to start from square one in the future.
You are doing incredibly impressive work. Your honesty in pointing out alternate possibilities and possible flaws in your techniques show that you are a natural scientist of the best kind. Btw, this addressed most of my questions from your other video.
If I was going to ignore the flaws there would be no point in making or testing it. If my base assumption is that it's perfect, any further examination can only harm.
It is possible that the leather was hardened an thickened. The following observations were made by Catlin on a method employed by native Americans during the 19th century to make shields. "... the Sioux shield made of the skin of the buffalo's neck, hardened with the glue extracted from the hoofs and joints of the same animal. The process of 'smoking the shield', is a very curious, as well as an important one in their estimation. For this purpose a young man about to construct him a shield, digs a hole of two feet in depth, in the ground, and as large in diameter as he designs to make his shield. In this he builds a fire, and over it, a few inches higher than the ground, he stretches the rawhide horizontally over the fire, with little pegs driven through holes made near the edges of the skin. This skin is at first, twice as large as the required shield; but having got his particular and best friends (who are invited on the occasion), into a ring, to dance and sing around it, and solicit the Great Spirit to instil into it the power to protect him harmless against his enemies, he spreads over it the glue, which is rubbed and dried in, as the skin is heated; and a second busily drives other and other pegs, inside of those in the ground, as they are gradually giving way and being pulled up by the contraction of the skin. By this curious process, which is most dexterously done, the skin is kept tight whilst it contracts to one-half of its size, taking up the glue and increasing in thickness until it is rendered as thick and hard as required (and his friends have pleaded long enough to make it arrow, and almost ball proof), when the dance ceases and the fire is put out. When it is cooled and cut into the shape that he desires, it is often painted with his medicine or totem upon it, the figure of an eagle, an owl, a buffalo or other animal, as the case may be, which he trusts will guard and protect him from harm; it is then fiinged with eagles' quills, or other ornaments he may have chosen, and slung with a broad leather strap that crosses his breast. These shields are carried by all the warriors in these regions, for their protection in battles, which are almost invariably fought from their horses' backs.' From Catlin, G., Letters and Notes on the Manners, Customs and Conditions of the North American Indians (1841) (Reprinted Dover Publications, New York, 1973). And taken from Non-Metallic Armour prior to the First World War by E.l. Cheshire.
In this video I'm specifically talking about underarmor. That sort of thing you're talking about would only work for outer armor. I could buy the idea of making armor through this technique, but I haven't seen anything similar to confirm it. Aside from laminating leather with hide glue. I've done some test scraps with a similar recipe to the one you shared. They were more than a half inch thick and hard like plastic, nothing like leather. I broke my pocketknife testing them. So it would certainly be strong enough. In my limited experience, I'd guess it might be difficult to mold to the body. It might warrant some experimentation.
@@MalcolmPL There's quite a lot of leather armour made with similar methods in europe, mostly its horse barding and secondary layers, where the leather can spread out the impact of blows stopped mail armour. But there are a number of acounts of leather, hide or skin armour in use on the planes.
I hadn't heard about leather being used for horse armor in europe. Interesting. I've read a few accounts mentioning plains leather armor, but nothing that seems to match the shield construction method you described.
@@MalcolmPL In Europe is often a mix, steel for the vitals but leather is far easier to fit to the horse, it flexes and moves better then steel. See: Arne Koets video on horse barding ruclips.net/video/PIdNxzHOLKo/видео.html This the PHD i mentioned earlier. drive.google.com/file/d/1pLwXX0G3mpH__sNgGNC9Bqb9mRo_1tLf/view?usp=sharing drive.google.com/file/d/1rd6VlfWqwvcyQRuV5Hlo7_ZLwPd-18E8/view?usp=sharing
Padding yes. Additionally splinters would also really encourage an inner layer. Less from construction defects and more as the wood armor got damaged during fighting. Especially when considering the groin is under splinter capable wood...
Honestly, I think that people overrate the need for 'padding', especially with the context of maile or similar armour types. Against sword blows et cetera they can perform quite well providing protection against blunt force in those circumstances. It is percussion weapons like maces, clubs or axes IMHO where you actually want padding, but even then usually only a small thickness is sufficient. I definitely believe you when you say that the wooden armour provides you with great protection against blunt force. It will likely distribute impact through entire surface of the armour before moving inwards, which takes out a lot of the 'kick'. Good call not having your siblings whack you with sticks though. They will likely find a way to 'miss' :P
If I may ask, why did the Iroquois choose to make this armor if they were in a wooded region? Wouldn't guerrilla warfare make more sense as they could hide a lot easier and move more efficiently? The account you described in an earlier video also confuses me, the one about the Iroquois shooting at their enemies in formation. Was this more like ritualized warfare? Let's say the formations met into a close quarters combat to make use of their clubs and shields. If one side pushes another to the tree line, wouldn't they have to route because the trees will break up their formation?
Ah that makes a lot more sense! Thanks for the clarification! I never considered how the taking of prisoners and possibly loot might affect strategy. When it comes to formations, I just thought that if the goal is to stay tightly packed that being forced into a tree line would force the block of people to shift creating disorder. It may make it harder to move, expose people on the flanks with the insides expanding to accomodate the trees, and if that weakness is exposed by the enemy to further disrupt the group, it would cause a route since they no longer have a cohesive group for protection. Though it's probable the Iroquois were highly aware and made tactics to get around such a weakness if it did prove to be a problem. Hope to see you making more videos, Malcolm, I really enjoy them. I've seen a lot of odd fletchings and point styles in my copy of "Encyclopedia of Native American Bows, Arrows, and Quivers". That one arrow you showed in a previous arrow with fletching on one side, how well does it shoot? There's so many styles of fletching I see in the book that makes me question how effective they are. Also, what's your take on wooden points? I see lots of blunts, but they ones that are carved into points make me curious as to how they fair against other point types.
It's okay, I saw the replies in the email notifications I get. Thank you again for clearing up my misconceptions, and I look forward to your future videos. Maybe something on Iroquois architecture or perhaps agriculture. I feel both are really overlooked. I read somewhere that the Northeastern tribes produced food that rivaled if not surpassed Europe's quantity.
I’m ninety five percent sure that side panels were worn with the armor. Hide reinforcements would work, but they are a less obvious solution and therefore less likely.
Why not use clay to compare the effectiveness of armor against blunt force? Hitting a naked clay will result in a "failure" control. The closer a result is to this control, the less cushioning and distribution something gives. Get another clay, place the test piece on it then hit it. If the clay is completely flat without any weapon marks, the test piece distributes impact well but doesn't cushion. If the clay has a faint imprint of the weapon, the test piece cushions but doesn't distribute the impact. With this, you can hit it full force and compare different materials without hurting yourself.
So basically a native American version of the 17th-century European buff coat. While I can see how the leather tunic could provide some protection on its own, I'm sure they were worn under slat armor to help with comfort and prevent chaffing as well.
Yeah, buff coat is a good comparison. Especially as a great many buff coats were also made from buffalo hides. Re, chafing. Chafing is just terrible if the slat armor is worn without a shirt. But I saw an early photo of a California native wearing it without, so is could be people just toughed it.
@@MalcolmPL In Europe, I believe the highest quality buff coats were made from elk (moose) hide which the natives in northeastern America certainly had access to as well. Quite difficult to acquire nowadays I'm sure.
@@Honeybadger_525 Got lots of moose out east. Modern tanned moose skins are cheaper by the yard than white tailed deer. Traditionally tanned moose skin, that's another thing though.
hello i’m wondering if i could get your thoughts on the possibilities of our Caribbean first peoples manufacturing pieces of body armor similar to these, some colonizer texts have mentioned the use of woven / plaited cotton armor, but i’m curious as to wether any leather or wooden armor might have existed. we didn’t have much megafauna prior to contact from which skins or pelts could be harvested, the only terrestrial mammal suitable for it is the jutía rodent. there were sizeable steady populations of manatee and Caribbean monk seals, however. there is also evidence of long-distance trade with the Circum-Caribbean region, such as tapir and jaguar teeth. thanks for the work that you do.
I’m not well enough versed in Caribbean history to give a useful opinion. On the face of it, it isn’t implausible, the wooden stuff just uses basic and common materials, sealskin isnt implausible either, the Inuit made armor from walrus skin. I can give some advice in researching. You can start by reading the accounts of the early explorers who interacted with the people in question, doing a word search for certain keywords can save a lot of time. (Armor, armour, battle, armadura, coraza etc.) You should also go through the artifacts and period art for any clues.(figurines, statues, etc.) After that you can expand your search outwards, if you find some other group which used armor and with whom your group interacted in a significant way, it is quite likely there would be technological exchange.
@@MalcolmPL thanks for the reply its really appreciated, the accounts from the Conquista del Caribe are the oldest of the entire colonial period and they're riddled with inconsistencies, exaggerations and glaring omissions as you've said in some of your videos. many of our cemí and other carved stone artifacts are anthropomorphic, and those that aren't are rather abstract and difficult to discern without the ancient wisdom. as are our symbols and images. i only know of one account which only mentions cotton armor. it doesn't help that much of the documentation is still classified as off limits in Spain. one day our peoples will know justice, solidarity with the Kanienʼkehá꞉ka may our sovereignties be restored from the south to the north. many blessings to you and your community.
If you lived near the border, for example near the saint lawrence, you could expect several raids a year. In the interior you might get less than one a year. You might also be expected to go on campaign every couple years. Though little wars were common and frequent, Warfare was highly ritualized, and a war might end with little bloodshed. The goal would be to take prisoners and scare the enemy away. In Iroquoian spirituality, death in battle is a very bad fate, so it wasn’t worth the risk of dying just to make more enemy widows.
Amazing video! I'm really glad to have found your channel! If you don't mind me asking, how thick is this leather under armor? What about the moose hide coat? Also, I've heard some books claim that war shirts weren't worn during battle and were purely ceremonial. Is this true? Maybe they were abandoned in battle after the introduction of firearms?
Mine is an eighth of an inch thick. As I mentioned though, it should be a double layer. So at least a quarter. The coat is about 3/16ths of an inch. Traditional leather can be thicker, as in the modern day machines are used to scrape the leather down to an even thickness. On the subject of war shirts being purely ceremonial. I haven't come across that. It's my understanding that they were very much used in battle.
We have plenty of accounts of war shirts being worn in combat well into 1860s and 1870s. And one or two surviving examples, some with battle damage. Heavier leather gear like actual cuirasses and barding were abandoned, but there was no reason to ditch the war-shirt. It wasn't overly encumbering, it provided some protection, and if you had to fight in the winter, it was another layer.
Fastenings on the right side are alsow sen on European armour of the middle-ages. Because most opponents are right handed so the left side is most likely to be hit.
Something relatively light and multipurpose. Any proper armor is going to significantly reduce the amount of supplies you can carry, so Maybe a thick fur coat or cloak.
@@pedrosalguero5664 As far as I'm concerned you can spell the words however you want. I don't mind since they were never meant to be written in the first place and most of them are not spelled anything like how they are pronounced.
![Oasis - Oasis Live '25 [Official Trailer]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/gol_JnuEtKM/mqdefault.jpg)
That is cool, I wish we had more information on native armor
That’s why I’m here.
@@MalcolmPL yup that's true, i have learned a lot more Into stuff i never knew about thanks to you. Keep up the great work.
Cheers.
Armored warriors of the northern Northwest coast video on Sealaska Heritage channel
I'll give it a look, thanks.
Awesome piece, I often wondered if we used any armor. All the movies have us running into battle wearing next to nothing sometimes. Now I feel more inspired to make my armor.
All the movies are set in the seventeen hundreds when there wasn’t any.
It's gnarly armor, hardwoods are surprisingly strong. The Aztecs Olmecs Toltecs etc and Apache used it too was fabric cotton slaked in lime in several layers like a kevlar vest that stopped arrows without fail it was also fireproof in case after the raid got they whacked on shrooms and fell into the fire :) I like your videos, really great stuff
I hadn't heard of it being put in lime. My understanding was that it was brine.
@@MalcolmPL This is the first time I see lime being mentioned. Everywhere else I see only brine mentioned. Those armored vests are called ichcahuipilli.
maybe putting the armor on a watermelon or Styrofoam would provide a more visual test of the armors effectiveness.
I think watermelons are a bit too delicate, but the general idea makes sense. Maybe a big lump of clay.
4:43 this skirmisher loadout is pretty much my initial target for recreation.
The wooden greaves seem like an easier first project than the traditional PNW slat armor, collar, and carved helmet combination
The greaves are pretty quick to make, but they require calculating some angles to fit the curve of the leg properly. I didn’t calculate it quite right, so they feel a little off.
The full woven panels are pretty simple to make, but take a long time to weave. My full suit took over sixty hours to weave.
I’m in awe of the skill that goes into the helmets and collars. So far above anything I’m capable of.
@@MalcolmPL The collars are made like we make our bentwood boxes. There's a very cool video from the 70s on youtube showing the process for making a bentwood box. Just take that process for making a square into making a circle.
Still, the collar and helmet are definitely something I'm not gonna tackle until I've got my own workshop.
I have built my first genuine war club in my people's style. Nothing fancy, but it makes an adequate fishing/hunting club or for a quick raid on the promenade.
@@conlinbryant5037 I'll look it up. Thanks.
Wearing some form of padding beneath hard armour is pretty much universal. For another example from the Americas, the Inca sported quilted cotton armour beneath a wood, copper, or bronze breastplate.
Really enjoying your set of videos. Watched like 20 of them in the past few weeks.
Found you from Reddit, this video blew my mind. Thanks for introducing me to indigenous armors!
Cheers. Glad you enjoyed, I’ve got other videos on the subject if you’re interested.
And it looks cool..
Eh, it's a little too bag like for my tastes, I might tailor it a little in the future.
@@MalcolmPL If you have 'room' in it maybe you could try slipping in a few small cushions.
For best shock absorption and airflow.
Nice Tsimpshian and Tlingit armor examples! I'm going to be making my own soon 🙂
Good to hear that more people are getting inspired. Best of luck to you.
@@MalcolmPL thank you! I wish more would embrace their culture. I'm glad you are sharing your journeys.
I was frustrated starting out at the lack of easy material on the subject. The point of the channel is to provide the sort of condensed accessible information that I wish had been available five or ten years ago. So that people like me don’t have to start from square one in the future.
This is so interesting. It's such a pity that materials like wood and leather don't preserve well so we have so few examples from history.
You are doing incredibly impressive work. Your honesty in pointing out alternate possibilities and possible flaws in your techniques show that you are a natural scientist of the best kind. Btw, this addressed most of my questions from your other video.
If I was going to ignore the flaws there would be no point in making or testing it. If my base assumption is that it's perfect, any further examination can only harm.
It is possible that the leather was hardened an thickened.
The following observations were made by Catlin on a method employed by native Americans during the 19th century to make shields.
"... the Sioux shield made of the skin of the buffalo's neck, hardened with the glue extracted from the hoofs and joints of the same animal.
The process of 'smoking the shield', is a very curious, as well as an important one in their estimation.
For this purpose a young man about to construct him a shield, digs a hole of two feet in depth, in the ground, and as large in diameter as he designs to make his shield.
In this he builds a fire, and over it, a few inches higher than the ground, he stretches the rawhide horizontally over the fire, with little pegs driven through holes made near the edges of the skin.
This skin is at first, twice as large as the required shield; but having got his particular and best friends (who are invited on the occasion), into a ring, to dance and sing around it, and solicit the Great Spirit to instil into it the power to protect him harmless against his enemies, he spreads over it the glue, which is rubbed and dried in, as the skin is heated; and a second busily drives other and other pegs, inside of those in the ground, as they are gradually giving way and being pulled up by the contraction of the skin.
By this curious process, which is most dexterously done, the skin is kept tight whilst it contracts to one-half of its size, taking up the glue and increasing in thickness until it is rendered as thick and hard as required (and his friends have pleaded long enough to make it arrow, and almost ball proof), when the dance ceases and the fire is put out.
When it is cooled and cut into the shape that he desires, it is often painted with his medicine or totem upon it, the figure of an eagle, an owl, a buffalo or other animal, as the case
may be, which he trusts will guard and protect him from harm; it is then fiinged with eagles' quills, or other ornaments he may have chosen, and slung with a broad leather strap that crosses his breast.
These shields are carried by all the warriors in these regions, for their protection in battles, which are almost invariably fought from their horses' backs.'
From Catlin, G., Letters and Notes on the Manners, Customs and Conditions of the North American Indians (1841) (Reprinted Dover Publications, New York, 1973).
And taken from Non-Metallic Armour prior to the First World War by E.l. Cheshire.
In this video I'm specifically talking about underarmor. That sort of thing you're talking about would only work for outer armor.
I could buy the idea of making armor through this technique, but I haven't seen anything similar to confirm it. Aside from laminating leather with hide glue.
I've done some test scraps with a similar recipe to the one you shared. They were more than a half inch thick and hard like plastic, nothing like leather. I broke my pocketknife testing them. So it would certainly be strong enough.
In my limited experience, I'd guess it might be difficult to mold to the body.
It might warrant some experimentation.
@@MalcolmPL There's quite a lot of leather armour made with similar methods in europe, mostly its horse barding and secondary layers, where the leather can spread out the impact of blows stopped mail armour.
But there are a number of acounts of leather, hide or skin armour in use on the planes.
I hadn't heard about leather being used for horse armor in europe. Interesting.
I've read a few accounts mentioning plains leather armor, but nothing that seems to match the shield construction method you described.
@@MalcolmPL In Europe is often a mix, steel for the vitals but leather is far easier to fit to the horse, it flexes and moves better then steel.
See: Arne Koets video on horse barding
ruclips.net/video/PIdNxzHOLKo/видео.html
This the PHD i mentioned earlier.
drive.google.com/file/d/1pLwXX0G3mpH__sNgGNC9Bqb9mRo_1tLf/view?usp=sharing
drive.google.com/file/d/1rd6VlfWqwvcyQRuV5Hlo7_ZLwPd-18E8/view?usp=sharing
@@SuperFunkmachine I suppose that makes a lot of sense. A lot of surface area to cover with steel too.
I love these videos.
Keep it up, l think your channel is great
that looks super cool.
Padding yes. Additionally splinters would also really encourage an inner layer. Less from construction defects and more as the wood armor got damaged during fighting. Especially when considering the groin is under splinter capable wood...
Wow really cool video I never knew natives had armor
Plenty of varieties, they just didn’t survive because organic materials.
Wish I was a bit native American, massive respect and love for their history
What an odd thing to say.
dude your awesome you need more subs
But what are the odds of that happening?
Honestly, I think that people overrate the need for 'padding', especially with the context of maile or similar armour types. Against sword blows et cetera they can perform quite well providing protection against blunt force in those circumstances. It is percussion weapons like maces, clubs or axes IMHO where you actually want padding, but even then usually only a small thickness is sufficient.
I definitely believe you when you say that the wooden armour provides you with great protection against blunt force. It will likely distribute impact through entire surface of the armour before moving inwards, which takes out a lot of the 'kick'.
Good call not having your siblings whack you with sticks though. They will likely find a way to 'miss' :P
If I may ask, why did the Iroquois choose to make this armor if they were in a wooded region? Wouldn't guerrilla warfare make more sense as they could hide a lot easier and move more efficiently? The account you described in an earlier video also confuses me, the one about the Iroquois shooting at their enemies in formation. Was this more like ritualized warfare? Let's say the formations met into a close quarters combat to make use of their clubs and shields. If one side pushes another to the tree line, wouldn't they have to route because the trees will break up their formation?
Ah that makes a lot more sense! Thanks for the clarification! I never considered how the taking of prisoners and possibly loot might affect strategy. When it comes to formations, I just thought that if the goal is to stay tightly packed that being forced into a tree line would force the block of people to shift creating disorder. It may make it harder to move, expose people on the flanks with the insides expanding to accomodate the trees, and if that weakness is exposed by the enemy to further disrupt the group, it would cause a route since they no longer have a cohesive group for protection. Though it's probable the Iroquois were highly aware and made tactics to get around such a weakness if it did prove to be a problem. Hope to see you making more videos, Malcolm, I really enjoy them. I've seen a lot of odd fletchings and point styles in my copy of "Encyclopedia of Native American Bows, Arrows, and Quivers". That one arrow you showed in a previous arrow with fletching on one side, how well does it shoot? There's so many styles of fletching I see in the book that makes me question how effective they are. Also, what's your take on wooden points? I see lots of blunts, but they ones that are carved into points make me curious as to how they fair against other point types.
RUclips censor bots took down my replies to this and a bunch of other comments. Weird. I wonder what I said to provoke that.
It's okay, I saw the replies in the email notifications I get. Thank you again for clearing up my misconceptions, and I look forward to your future videos. Maybe something on Iroquois architecture or perhaps agriculture. I feel both are really overlooked. I read somewhere that the Northeastern tribes produced food that rivaled if not surpassed Europe's quantity.
Both good ideas. Thanks.
I agree that side slats were likely used. If they weren't, what are your thoughts on extra thick sections of hide on the under armor?
I’m ninety five percent sure that side panels were worn with the armor.
Hide reinforcements would work, but they are a less obvious solution and therefore less likely.
Why not use clay to compare the effectiveness of armor against blunt force?
Hitting a naked clay will result in a "failure" control. The closer a result is to this control, the less cushioning and distribution something gives. Get another clay, place the test piece on it then hit it.
If the clay is completely flat without any weapon marks, the test piece distributes impact well but doesn't cushion. If the clay has a faint imprint of the weapon, the test piece cushions but doesn't distribute the impact.
With this, you can hit it full force and compare different materials without hurting yourself.
There are some shortcomings, but you're right, That would probably be the best solution.
So basically a native American version of the 17th-century European buff coat. While I can see how the leather tunic could provide some protection on its own, I'm sure they were worn under slat armor to help with comfort and prevent chaffing as well.
Yeah, buff coat is a good comparison. Especially as a great many buff coats were also made from buffalo hides.
Re, chafing. Chafing is just terrible if the slat armor is worn without a shirt. But I saw an early photo of a California native wearing it without, so is could be people just toughed it.
@@MalcolmPL In Europe, I believe the highest quality buff coats were made from elk (moose) hide which the natives in northeastern America certainly had access to as well. Quite difficult to acquire nowadays I'm sure.
@@Honeybadger_525 Got lots of moose out east. Modern tanned moose skins are cheaper by the yard than white tailed deer.
Traditionally tanned moose skin, that's another thing though.
Dutch military museum (NMM) M.08.01.40K.03.03 Leather buff coat aprox 1650ad to be worn under a bulletproof breastplate
@@knutzzl I went and had a look. That museum has a good collection. But it is weird trying to navigate a website when you do not speak the language.
hello i’m wondering if i could get your thoughts on the possibilities of our Caribbean first peoples manufacturing pieces of body armor similar to these, some colonizer texts have mentioned the use of woven / plaited cotton armor, but i’m curious as to wether any leather or wooden armor might have existed. we didn’t have much megafauna prior to contact from which skins or pelts could be harvested, the only terrestrial mammal suitable for it is the jutía rodent. there were sizeable steady populations of manatee and Caribbean monk seals, however. there is also evidence of long-distance trade with the Circum-Caribbean region, such as tapir and jaguar teeth. thanks for the work that you do.
I’m not well enough versed in Caribbean history to give a useful opinion. On the face of it, it isn’t implausible, the wooden stuff just uses basic and common materials, sealskin isnt implausible either, the Inuit made armor from walrus skin.
I can give some advice in researching.
You can start by reading the accounts of the early explorers who interacted with the people in question, doing a word search for certain keywords can save a lot of time. (Armor, armour, battle, armadura, coraza etc.)
You should also go through the artifacts and period art for any clues.(figurines, statues, etc.)
After that you can expand your search outwards, if you find some other group which used armor and with whom your group interacted in a significant way, it is quite likely there would be technological exchange.
@@MalcolmPL thanks for the reply its really appreciated, the accounts from the Conquista del Caribe are the oldest of the entire colonial period and they're riddled with inconsistencies, exaggerations and glaring omissions as you've said in some of your videos. many of our cemí and other carved stone artifacts are anthropomorphic, and those that aren't are rather abstract and difficult to discern without the ancient wisdom. as are our symbols and images. i only know of one account which only mentions cotton armor. it doesn't help that much of the documentation is still classified as off limits in Spain. one day our peoples will know justice, solidarity with the Kanienʼkehá꞉ka may our sovereignties be restored from the south to the north. many blessings to you and your community.
@@yansideabacoa6257 Best of luck to you. I'm sorry I don't have anything particularly helpful to add.
How often did Iroquoian people experience skirmishes and raids?
If you lived near the border, for example near the saint lawrence, you could expect several raids a year. In the interior you might get less than one a year.
You might also be expected to go on campaign every couple years.
Though little wars were common and frequent, Warfare was highly ritualized, and a war might end with little bloodshed. The goal would be to take prisoners and scare the enemy away.
In Iroquoian spirituality, death in battle is a very bad fate, so it wasn’t worth the risk of dying just to make more enemy widows.
Amazing video! I'm really glad to have found your channel! If you don't mind me asking, how thick is this leather under armor? What about the moose hide coat?
Also, I've heard some books claim that war shirts weren't worn during battle and were purely ceremonial. Is this true? Maybe they were abandoned in battle after the introduction of firearms?
Mine is an eighth of an inch thick. As I mentioned though, it should be a double layer. So at least a quarter.
The coat is about 3/16ths of an inch.
Traditional leather can be thicker, as in the modern day machines are used to scrape the leather down to an even thickness.
On the subject of war shirts being purely ceremonial. I haven't come across that. It's my understanding that they were very much used in battle.
We have plenty of accounts of war shirts being worn in combat well into 1860s and 1870s. And one or two surviving examples, some with battle damage. Heavier leather gear like actual cuirasses and barding were abandoned, but there was no reason to ditch the war-shirt. It wasn't overly encumbering, it provided some protection, and if you had to fight in the winter, it was another layer.
Looks like good protection against fangs and claws too.
I wonder...
amazing!
Cheers.
@@MalcolmPL cheers friend
Fastenings on the right side are alsow sen on European armour of the middle-ages.
Because most opponents are right handed so the left side is most likely to be hit.
Yeah, whether you’ve got a bow or a shield, the left side is going to be presented.
Best armor for a fantsy traveler?
Thansk for the videos
Something relatively light and multipurpose. Any proper armor is going to significantly reduce the amount of supplies you can carry, so Maybe a thick fur coat or cloak.
Interesting. I never realized that native Americans were developing armor.
You have no idea how often I hear that.
You saying hello there instead of saigo feels so odd
I was worried people might find sago pretentious. Though I suppose that’s a stupid thing to worry about.
Imposter syndrome is a weird thing.
@@MalcolmPL sorry I misspelled sago
@@pedrosalguero5664 As far as I'm concerned you can spell the words however you want.
I don't mind since they were never meant to be written in the first place and most of them are not spelled anything like how they are pronounced.
I just looked it up, I spelled it wrong too.
The proper spelling is "sekon."
Because that makes sense.