Yanghai leather scale armor

The Yanghai leather scale armor is a piece of assyrian styled leather armor that was dated to be from the years 786-543 BCE in northwest china and was manufactured in the neo-assyrian empire. The leathered armor is made up of 5,444 smaller scales with 140 large scales making the total weight of the Yanghai leather scale armor to be 4-5 kg. [1] It was found in 2013 on a possible 30 year old horse rider at the Yanghai cemetery.[2] The armor was a type of scaled armor and is unique due to it being the only complete scale armor of any material. A hypothesis of the reason why this piese survived for 2,700 year is because of the arid climate preventing it from rotting away.[3] The Yanghai leather scale armor was made from small shield-shaped plates organized in horizontal rows and sewn onto a backing.Because of the expensive supplies, material and laborious manufacturing, armors had been treasured and carrying them was thought of a privilege of the elite. It was uncommon for the Neo-Assyrian Empire to be buried with the proprietor.[4]

The Neo-Assyrian Empire where the leathered scaled armor piece was made and sold to china.