Hallaton helmet
| Hallaton helmet | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Information | |
| Weapon type: | Protective weapon |
| Designations: | Hallaton helmet |
| Use: | helmet |
| Working time: | about 1st century to 2nd century AD |
| Region of origin / author: |
Roman Empire |
| Particularities: | Cavalry sports helmet Type I |
| Lists on the subject | |
The Hallaton Helmet is in 2000 in Hallaton in the British county of Leicestershire found Roman cavalry - Parade helmet dating from the 1st century AD.
Location
The site in Hallaton seems to be the site of a sanctuary from the pre-Roman times, where animals were sacrificed on a large scale . Of the more than 7000 bones found, 97% are pig bones. The sacrificial animals were apparently dedicated as a whole to a deity. A processional route probably led to the top of the hill with the sanctuary, which was surrounded by a palisade and moat . In Roman times the hill was in the area of the Corieltauvi .
History of finds and restoration
The site of the Hallaton helmet was discovered by a private treasure hunter with his probe in 2000. He reported his discovery to the responsible authorities, which then began scientific excavations in 2003. The helmet was found along with over five thousand coins. The coin find also contained the oldest Roman coin found so far in earlier Britain , dating from the year 211 BC. The helmet, surrounded by plaster, was recovered as a lump for restoration at the British Museum in London .
The treasure hunter had to share the payment of the value of the find with the landowner in accordance with the applicable find law, under the Treasure Act , in the amount of £ 300,000. The total cost of £ 1 million sterling, including the restoration and preservation of the helmet at the British Museum, came from the county of Leicestershire mainly through lottery money and other donations. Since January 2012, the helmet, which had to be reassembled from thousands of individual parts in the British Museum, has been exhibited in the Harborough Museum in Market Harborough in Leicestershire along with other finds.
Description of the helmet
The Hallaton helmet is a three-part Roman cavalry helmet, as it was worn by the auxiliary troops of the cavalry in parades, the hippica gymnasia . In these games , riders and horses were richly equipped with clothing and other utensils such as armor and feathers. The riders showed their skills and, among other things, recreated scenes from the Trojan War .
Most of the silver and gold mounts on the Hallaton helmet made of relatively thin iron were still there. The cheek flaps originally attached to the helmet have not been preserved, but several individual cheek flaps were found at the site. The helmet is characterized by pronounced forehead protection and an elongated neck protection.
The decorations on the helmet are similar to those on the equestrian helmet found in Xanten - Wardt . The helmet is decorated with laurel branches . In the middle of the forehead protection is a goddess, now heavily damaged, flanked by two lions. The cheek flaps found were richly decorated. One shows a triumphant Roman emperor riding his horse and arm held high over a barbarian as he is crowned by Victoria . Another cheek piece shows a figure with a large cornucopia , including a Roman helmet and a shield.
Interpretation of the find
The discovery of this magnificent Roman helmet in a local sanctuary is very unusual. The helmet was probably made between 25 and 50 AD, that is, around the time of the Roman conquest of Britain in 43 AD. So far, there are various theories as to why the helmet came to the sanctuary. One says the owner was a Briton who served in the Roman cavalry. Another speculation is that the helmet was a diplomatic gift from the Romans. The fact that the helmet could have been a piece of booty from a battle is ruled out because it is too thin as protection in a battle and the decorations are too expensive.
See also
Web links
- British Museum blog of January 10, 2012
- BBC report of January 12, 2012
- Leicestershire County Report January 2012 (PDF; 1.8 MB)
