Domed Helmets

Domed Helmets

This article's completion rating is 2 out of 5. Article structure and content is subject to change as data is still being collected.

This article's completion rating is 2 out of 5. Article structure and content is subject to change as data is still being collected.

A helmet constructed from strips and plates of iron riveted together in a dome shape. They often have additional face and neck protection attached.

How common were helmets prior to 1000AD

Only one domed helmet has been dated to the Viking Age and that is the find from the Gjermundbu cremation. The find is generally dated to the 10th century although dates as early as the late 9th century have been suggested [STEUER 1987]. The latest commonly accepted date of the cremation is 980AD although suggestions that the helmet may have been 100 years old at the time of cremation have been put forward.
In the light of this scant evidence for helmets a number of articles have started to appear questioning the reasoning of why people think that helmets were commonly worn during the Viking Age [WESTER 2001] [THOMPSON 2010].

Variations in domed helmets

Art

• Manuscripts
  • C1 Leiden, Cod. Perizono F17 f.49r, 850-950AD
• Carvings
  • Chester-le-street, England (----). Stone carving [TWEDDLE 1992:p.1102]
  • Sockburn, England (----). 2 stone carvings [TWEDDLE 1992:p.1102]
  • Aberlemo, Scotland (----). Stone carving [TWEDDLE 1992:p.1099]
• Coins
  • Aethelred II (1003-1009) (TWEDDLE 1992, p.1104)

Literature
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Archaeology
See Catalogue of Domed Helmet Finds

Archaeological finds of Domed Helmets

Discussion
Domed helms are still depicted on some early C11th coins. Tweddle states that the use of the conical helmet probably continued into the C9th and C10th. [TWEDDLE 1992:p.1125]

... with a crest

A raised ridge running vertically over the helmet. Often in the shape of an animal and terminating in an animal head over the nose.

Recreation Guide

800-899	900-979	980-1040	1041-1100
Allowable	Unacceptable

Art
--
Literature
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Archaeology
See table ‘Archaeological Finds of Domed Helmets’
Discussion
--

... with a boar figurine

Wollaston

A boar figurine attached to the ridge band of a helmet.
Art

• Manuscripts
  • Russia, Cod.Q.v.XIV.I. fol1 (----) [TWEDDLE 1992: p.1101]
• Helmet plates
  • Sweden (----). Vendel I [TWEDDLE 1992: p.1123]
  • Sweden (----). Valsgarde 7 [TWEDDLE 1992: p.1123]

Literature

• Saga of Saga of King Hrolf Kraki . King Adils' helmet which he called Hildigölt (War-Boar) [OAKESHOTT 1960: p.152]
• Beowolf

Archaeology

• England, 2 finds (Wollaston and Benty Grange) and 1 possible (New Haven, now lost) [POLLINGTON 2006: p.161].

Discussion
--

... with a bird’s head crest

Vendle helmet plate

A helmet with a high crest increasing in height towards the front of the helmet and terminating in a bird’s head
Art

• from helmet plates
  • Sweden (----). Vendel I [TWEDDLE 1992: p.1123]
  • Sweden (----). Vendel XIV [TWEDDLE 1992: p.1123]
  • Sweden (----). Valsgarde 7 [TWEDDLE 1992: p.1123]

Literature
--
Archaeology
None
Discussion
--

... with a spectacle face guard [V]

Vendle 14

A protective face plate with two eye holes.
Art
--
Literature
--
Archaeology
See Catalogue of Domed Helmet Finds
Discussion
The only Viking Age helm found to date has been from Gjermundbu dated to 970AD (----). It is possible that the helm was already 100 years old when it has cremated (----) and it is not an unreasonable extrapolation that this helmet was a continuation of the Vendel / Valsgarde style of helms from the 8th century.
Only the spectacle part has survived from the Tjele and Hogbro helms and these have been identified as similar in form to the Gjermundbu helm [TWEDDLE 1992:p.1126].

... with check flaps

Hinged metal plates that protect the side of the face
Art

• Franks Casket [HARRISON 1993: p.1] (*BM*)
• Stockburn shaft, C10th [TWEDDLE 1992: p.1100]

Literature
--
Archaeology
See Catalogue of Domed Helmet Finds
Discussion
A continuation from the Roman helmet. Cheek flaps can also be seen on the Lewis Chessmen dated to the C12th.

... with a mail curtain

Valsgarde 8

A mail sheet that covers the front of the face.
Art
--
Literature
--
Archaeology
--
Discussion
Middle east Persian?

... with a mail aventail

A curtain of mail attached to the rear of a helm and designed to protect the neck.

Recreation Guide

800-899	900-979	980-1040	1041-1100
Optional		Encouraged

Art
--
Literature
--
Archaeology
--
Discussion
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... with horns

Oseberg Tapestry

A helmet used for ceremonial functions
Art

• Oseberg Tapestry c.834AD possible figure of Odin
• Kungsangen, Sweden (----) Two men, one in a horned helm, the other in a wolf mask (HAGG 1984, p.186)
• Torslunda, Öland (c.600AD) A bronze die showing Woden with twin-dragon headgear followed by a wolf-warrior drawing his sword. (SPEIDEL 2004, p.28)
• Rempstone, England (----) A mount (TWEDDLE 1992, p.1124)
• Sweden, (----) images on the Valsgarde 7 and Valsgarde 8 helmets (TWEDDLE 1992, p.1124)
• Sutton Hoo, England (----) image on helmet (TWEDDLE 1992, p.1124)

Literature
--
Archaeology
--
Discussion
--

See Also

Domed Helmets found in Western Europe

External Sites

Looking for the Evidence

References

<nocite> HAGG1984 HARRISON1993 STEUER1987 THOMPSON2010 TWEDDLE1992 WESTER2001 </nocite> <biblio force=false>#Template:Bib</biblio>