helmet copper roman cavalry helmet dating late 2nd early 3rd century found unnamed metal near england later investigations found british farming settlement occupied site helmet discovered located miles away roman road roman army fort possible owner helmet local served roman cavalry helmet appears deliberately folded deposited artificial stone structure thought ceremonial occasions combat antique time buried type helmet found design similarities found found facial features akin helmets found southern europe design exploits romans enacted cavalry tournaments senior curator described helmet immensely interesting important find face mask extremely finely wrought striking ensemble helmet exceptional find greatest national international significance october helmet sold million million undisclosed private buyer art gallery sought purchase helmet support helmet far publicly displayed twice exhibition house description helmet complete example piece roman cavalry helmet portrays face youthful clean male hair shape cap crest winged griffin stands raised foot resting originally attached means iron pin survived existence presence deposits iron helmet held place leather attached neck decorated helmet ear wear marks caused opening closing visible point helmet repaired bronze sheet splits roman helmets complete found britain helmet helmet helmet cast consisting average copper tin probably derived melted scrap brass low content tin added improve quality casting fragments traces white metal coating indicating originally appearance silver griffin cast separately different consisting copper tin lead originally silver helmet yellow appearance helmet creation dated late 2nd early 3rd century use particular type decorated design features pierced eyes debate symbolic meaning helmet design griffin companion nemesis goddess vengeance fate seen agents death linked combat meaning face clearly identifiable suggestions ranged greek god hero roman gods general appearance possibly meant suggest identity cap romans visual motif representing discovery restoration helmet found farm owned unnamed metal detecting father adjacent fields years previously discovered roman coins small artefacts situated far roman road number earthworks located nearby indicating presence previously ancient settlement area strategically placed route northern frontier territory tribe roman army present area certainly nearby road roman auxiliary fort stood kilometres north east following helmet discovery area investigated project sponsored earthworks noted earlier found substantial enclosure surrounded ditches buildings stood enclosure measures metres long southern combines native british roman methods fortification sunken area enclosure possibly served horses evidence buildings concentrated enclosure northern portion remnants british field systems surrounding area area cultivation animal remains found site indicate inhabitants raised livestock including sheep goats pigs presence roman pottery suggests inhabitants adopted elements roman lifestyle community long romans arrived archaeological evidence enclosure indicates site settled far years helmet deposited discovered helmet buried surface site located lower end settlement placed stone hole filled soil stone cap laid helmet found large fragments small fragments apparently folded burial intact placed face griffin detached found helmet artefacts found time subsequent excavations discovered number copper iron objects roman coins dating coins found artificial stone feature helmet deposited buried time initially realise found roman thought victorian eventually identified roman consulting auction searching internet getting advice dealers notified discovery visited commissioned independent restore helmet sale asked delay restoration scientific examination carried request granted information helmet burial lost result able inspect find restoration ray carried determine composition griffin restoration work took hours involved repair cracks holes match appearance surrounding material similarities usage helmet marked similarities number roman cavalry helmets cavalry sports type classification type classification similar examples found britain syria type helmet found scotland facial features closely parallel helmet found italy rendering hair similar type helmet found belgrade serbia dated 2nd century griffin unique parallel lost bronze originally attached crest discovered lancashire nearly unique example form cap found state dated second half 2nd century rings helmet griffin attach colourful helmets cavalry tournaments performed emperors senior commanders horses riders wore decorated clothes armour performing feats historical legendary battles wars greeks according roman writer high rank superior wear helmets iron bronze draw attention spectators unlike helmets active service cover head fit round faces riders eyes helmets hang yellow matter utility horses forward breeze adds beauty combat gear issued belonged roman army returned end service cavalry sports equipment appears treated differently soldiers apparently privately commissioned purchased use evidently retained completed service helmets found graves contexts away obvious military sites deposited forts vicinity cases carefully folded buried case dutch historian identified roman military equipment soldiers took certain items home reminder service occasionally disposed away garrison sites grave goods offerings circumstances helmet buried unclear discoveries post discovery excavations provided detail context clearly deposited artificial feature specially constructed suggests feature intended memorial sort buried isolated spot long occupied british farming settlement clearly adopted aspects roman culture given settlement proximity roman military locations possible inhabitants served roman army recruited mounted native peoples helmet valuable antique time burial coins found nearby reflect buried century old time deposited deliberately broken buried intended ritual sacrifice identity owner known local served roman cavalry responsible helmet deposition auction controversy find reported portable scheme declared treasure treasure act single items non precious metal covered act landowner free dispose helmet saw fit discovery publicly announced mid september helmet october auction catalogue featuring cover pages value launched appeal aim purchasing helmet making focus new roman frontier gallery open campaign immediately attracted numerous donations including anonymous overseas offered sum matching sum raised public million offer pledge paul charitable trust time auction half weeks campaign launched museum raised money support bid million scenes efforts persuade landowner agree private sale museum approaches failed initial estimate passed seconds auction opening pushed price million pounds forced drop million remaining took bid past million winning anonymous resident fine art collector bidding phone paid total including buyer premium outcome aroused controversy prompted calls treasure act revised noted circumstances helmet discovery resulted outside scope revised act possible helmet come public ownership winning wishes export export licence applied temporary export bar placed opportunity arise funds raised public institution purchase helmet display sale helmet public display times lent owner london display september december exhibition november january helmet display art gallery printed guide produced occasion subsequently displayed january april
Crosby Garrett Helmet