Archaeologists with Vejle Museum unearthed a 1,600-year-old weapon offering, including over 100 spearheads, lances, swords, chainmails, and two fragments of Roman helmets, at the site of Løsning Søndermark, Hedentified, Denmark.
Dr. Elias Witt Thomasen reveals the provision of a massive weapon at the Løsning Søndermark site in Hedensted, Denmark. Image credit: Vejle Museums.
“Two unusual iron plates were excavated during the investigation of one of the largest weapons deposits provided in the home’s mailholes.
“In the beginning, their origins were unknown. However, with the help of x-ray imaging, parents and archaeologists were able to see under the thick layer of rust surrounding the object.”
“The results revealed a very rare find: the ruins of a Roman helmet.”
According to the team, the discovery is the only known Roman helmet discovered in Denmark and the earliest iron helmet in the country.
“The two plates consist of a neck plate of a so-called coat of arms of helmets and decorated cheek plates, a type used in the Roman Empire of the 4th century AD,” the researchers said.
“In southern Scandinavia, Roman helmets from the Iron Age are extremely rare and have no direct similarities to this discovery.”
“There are several similar findings from Thorsbjerg Moor in Schleswig and from South Sweden and Gotland-None in Denmark.”
X-ray image of neck and cheek guards from a Roman helmet. Image credits: Vejle Museums
The finding raises an important question: why were the neck plate and one cheek plate only discovered?
“The answer lies in the nature of postwar rituals in the Iron Age, where weapons and military equipment rarely accumulate intact,” explained Dr. Thomasen.
“The spearhead was separated from the shaft, the blade of the sword was divided into the handle, the equipment was destroyed and divided between the parties involved in the conflict.”
“The missing cheek plates and helmet bowls could be distributed elsewhere.”
“Helmets may have belonged to Germanic warlords who served in Roman auxiliary institutions.
“Or maybe it was plundered from Roman legions in a battle near the Imperial Germanic frontier and later brought to Jatland.”
“In itself, in relation to the broader deposition of weapons and military equipment at the site, the helmet offers valuable insight into the connection between the Iron Age military elite and the powerful southern neighbor, the Roman Empire. .”
Source: www.sci.news
