HELMET

A Late Iron Age copper alloy Helmet reused as a Cremation Vessel.

Report from British Museum Curator:

1. Copper alloy helmet (largely intact, four bags of small fragments probably associated, see no. 2).

The helmet is of Robinson's (1975) 'Coolus A' type, Pernet's (2010) Coolus-Mannheim (closest to the Coolus légers examples). It is of a simple, almost hemispherical design, although oval in plan, with shallow-angled projecting neck-guard at the rear. It appears to have been beaten from a single sheet of copper alloy. There is an area of damage at the peak of the bowl of the helmet, with a large section now missing. The edges of the break are irregular. The fragments found in the helmet pit during the excavation (see no. 2) appear to fit into this area, and it is likely that the helmet was complete when it was deposited. This damage may have been caused by accumulation of water in the fragile base of the up-turned helmet. There is additional damage to the edge of the helmet bowl. This was probably caused when the helmet was struck by a plough, close to the centre of the rim. This section of the front of the rim has broken away from the bowl of the helmet and is sharply indented inwards. There is additional cracking and splitting around the sides and towards the back of the helmet, almost certainly caused by the stress of the same plough impact.

The bowl of the helmet is smooth, plain and undecorated. There are two parallel lines of cabled decoration running around the circumference of the helmet; one follows the edge, while the other runs above it, following the line of the bowl. The distance between these two bands of decoration therefore widens along the neck-guard, which projects out from the bowl. There is a single circular hole pierced through each side of the helmet, between these bands of decoration. This type of helmet was not normally fitted with cheek-pieces (Pernet 2010, 116; Robinson 1975, 29), so it is most likely that these holes were intended for the attachment of a chin-strap. There is an additional square hole somewhat crudely pierced through the decoration on the neck-guard of the helmet. This is a common feature on helmets of this type, and may have been used as a third point of attachment for the chin-tie, or possibly for the attachment of a carrying-ring. Figure-of-eight shaped rings used for this purpose are occasionally found with these helmets (Pernet 2010, 116), but none was recovered in this instance, and an organic loop is also a possibility.

Measurements: Circumference above neck-guard: 625mm; circumference around rim, including neck-guard, and incorporating areas of damage: 665mm; maximum remaining height: 145mm; maximum length (front to back): 233mm; maximum width (side to side): 200mm; projecting length of neck-guard at rear: 27mm; width of bands of incised decoration along neck guard: 2.7mm; weight: 539.4g.

2. Small fragments of copper alloy sheet

Several small fragments of copper alloy sheet were recovered during the archaeological excavations from three contexts: the backfill of the finder's original excavations (approximately 8-10 fragments); the modern ploughsoil (2 fragments, possibly joining); and the remaining undisturbed fill of the pit (approximately 5 fragments). These are currently stored in four separate bags (two from the undisturbed pit fill). It is highly likely that these fragments originally formed part of the helmet (find 1).

Measurements: Largest fragment approximately 36mm in length. Total weight: less than 10g.

3. Copper alloy spike

A small spike was recovered with the helmet. It is made from a small piece of copper alloy sheet rolled into a simple point. The spike shares the same greenish patina as the helmet, and it seems likely that it was associated with the helmet in some way. As it does not appear to relate directly to any of the three holes pierced through the rim of the helmet, it is possible that it fitted somehow into the damaged area at the top. Nevertheless, this interpretation is problematic, and cannot be demonstrated with any certainty. Helmets of the type used in this burial were not normally fitted with knobs, spikes or crests, nor is this spike of the same design as those sometimes used to adorn other types of contemporary helmet. If this piece had been used to adorn the top of the helmet, it would have been a very unusual modification. It is equally possible that the spike is unrelated to the helmet, or served a different, unknown, purpose.

Measurements: Total length: 27.1mm; maximum width at base: 12.9mm; weight: 1.8g.

4. Human remains

A quantity of highly fragmentary cremated human remains was also found. One fragment was removed by the finder at the time of the initial find. The majority (at present divided into three bags: fragments over 5mm; fragments over 2mm; and fragments over 1mm in size) was recovered during the archaeological excavation. This material was recovered from the backfill of the pit dug by the finder. These bones had originally been placed into the upturned helmet for burial.

Measurements: Approx. total weight: 540g

The helmet (finds 1-3) date to the mid-first century BC.

Discussion can be viewed on request.