I’m Roland Warzecha — professional illustrator and swordsman. The name Dimicator comes from the Latin for “sword fighter.” I share cutting-edge research into historical martial arts, focusing in particular on Viking and high medieval sword-and-shield combat. My work is carried out in collaboration with museums, fellow martial artists, and scholars around the world.
How Tall Were They Really? And Fighting with Germanic Shields
|
Hello fellow history enthusiasts and blade aficionados, questions about historical body proportions come up regularly when discussing historical and prehistoric fighting techniques. Fortunately, archaeology provides some surprisingly clear answers. Were People Smaller in the Past?One widespread assumption is that human body height increased steadily throughout history and that people today are generally taller than our ancestors. The archaeological record paints a more nuanced picture. Studies of skeletal remains show that body height fluctuated considerably depending on living conditions, nutrition, disease, and social structures rather than following a simple upward trend. For example, men of the Early Bronze Age Únětice culture averaged 167.6 cm — exactly the same figure reported for Thailand in 2009. Men in the Roman Imperial period reached heights broadly comparable to those of today, whereas average stature in the middle of the 19th century was not greater than in the Stone Age. Viking Age Scandinavians averaged around 172 cm, with some individuals approaching two metres. This matters because it reminds us that historical people were not fundamentally different bodies moving in unfamiliar ways. They were humans shaped by environments and circumstances — just as we are. If you would like to explore the topic further, I recommend: • Caroline Ahlström Arcini — The Viking Age – A Time of Many Faces Germanic Shields in MotionSpeaking of bodies in action: A new video on my Patreon explores combat training with Germanic shields. Recorded during the Berlin Buckler Bouts, the footage shows practical experimentation with centre-gripped Germanic-style shields and training versions of single-edged swords inspired by finds and research connected with the Roman Imperial period. One thing struck me immediately: despite offering considerably more cover than a buckler, these shields remain remarkably agile. Their limited width allows for dynamic thrusting actions, while their short edges can be manoeuvred in unexpectedly lively ways. The result is a style of fencing that feels fast, mobile, and tremendous fun. Everybody is welcome to watch the public preview. Patrons of according tiers can enjoy the full video. And to all patrons: thank you. Your support makes experiments like this possible.
So, that's it for today. Take care, and keep your blade well-honed. If you enjoyed this newsletter, please recommend it to your friends. They can sign up here or on my website. Or simply forward them this email. Improve your skills with our sword-and-buckler online courses. If you wish to read more, find hundreds of related posts on my Patreon. Special thanks to all my loyal supporters on Patreon – you keep me going! And if you are not a patron yet, you are most welcome to join. If you feel like dropping a coin into my tip jar, you can do so here. Thank you for your time and your interest. Shields up! Roland You are receiving this newsletter because you have signed up for it, or because you have previously expressed your interest in my work and events. If you prefer to not receive further emails, you can unsubscribe below. |
Dimicator
I’m Roland Warzecha — professional illustrator and swordsman. The name Dimicator comes from the Latin for “sword fighter.” I share cutting-edge research into historical martial arts, focusing in particular on Viking and high medieval sword-and-shield combat. My work is carried out in collaboration with museums, fellow martial artists, and scholars around the world.
Hello fellow history enthusiasts and blade aficionados, sometimes the most interesting discoveries come not from finding something new, but from looking again at familiar things. Here are a few recommendations and updates that I hope you will enjoy. A replica fishtail dagger which I recently got to play with in Harald Meller's office. A Stone Age Misconception? Some ideas become so widespread that they eventually start to feel self-evident. One such example concerns Late Neolithic fishtail...
History in Stone — And Steel Hello fellow history enthusiasts and sword lovers, living in rural Mecklenburg means being surrounded by traces of the past. Within only a few kilometres of where I live, one encounters Neolithic monuments, Bronze Age burial mounds, Iron Age cemeteries, Slavic settlement history, and medieval fieldstone churches. Much of this remarkable heritage remains little known beyond the region itself, despite its historical significance and enormous cultural potential....
Blades, Belief, and Hidden Design Documenting a 4000-year old dagger in Halle Hello fellow history enthusiasts and blade aficionados, two weeks ago, I returned from a research trip to Jena and Halle. During this excursion, I had the opportunity to examine and document a range of remarkable Bronze and Iron Age artefacts. I also met with Professor Harald Meller and Dr Jan-Heinrich Bunnefeld to discuss future research ventures — more on that in due course. For now, I invite you to explore my...