### id258296103 scale armor was a valuable heirloom > Scale armors protect the vital organs of fighters like an extra layer of skin without restricting their mobility. The armors were made of small shield-shaped plates arranged in horizontal rows and sewn onto a backing. Due to the costly materials and laborious manufacturing process, armors were very precious, and wearing them was considered a privilege of the elite. It was rare for them to be buried with the owner. However, the emergence of powerful states with large armies in the ancient world led to the development of less precious but nevertheless effective armors made of leather, bronze or iron for ordinary soldiers - [View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01fprhspgnbr5ctphbmht06f8j) - [[2,700-Year-Old Leather Armor Proves Technology Transfer Happened in Antiquity via ScienceDaily#id258296103 scale armor was a valuable heirloom|View in Vault]]