Shorwell helmet

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The Shorwell helmet is an Anglo-Saxon helmet from the early to mid-sixth century AD found
near Shorwell on the Isle of Wight in southern England. It was one of the grave goods of a high-
status Anglo-Saxon warrior, and was found with other objects such as a pattern-welded sword
and hanging bowl. One of only six known Anglo-Saxon helmets, alongside those from Benty
Grange, Sutton Hoo, Coppergate, Wollaston, and Staffordshire, it is the sole example to derive from
the continental Frankish style rather than the contemporaneous Northern "crested helmets" used in
England and Scandinavia.
The grave was discovered by members of a metal detecting club in May 2004,
and excavated by archaeologists that November. Ploughing had destroyed much of the surrounding
Anglo-Saxon cemetery, leaving this as the only individually identifiable grave. The helmet had
fragmented into around 400 pieces, perhaps in part because of the subsoiling, and was originally
identified as a "fragmentary iron vessel".[1][2] Only after it was acquired by the British Museum and
reconstructed was it identified as a helmet. It remains in the museum's collection, but as of 2018 is
not on display.
Exhibiting hardly any decoration other than a speculative exterior leather covering, the Shorwell
helmet was a utilitarian fighting helmet. It was simply and sturdily designed out of eight pieces of
riveted iron; its only decorative elements were paired with functional uses. The helmet's plainness
belies its significance, for helmets were rare in Anglo-Saxon England, and appear to have been
limited to the higher classes. The recovery of only six Anglo-Saxon helmets despite the excavation
of thousands of graves suggests that their owners had some status.

Description

A replica of the Shorwell helmet

The helmet was constructed from eight pieces of iron riveted together.[3] A brow band, 620 mm
(24 in) long and 60 mm (2.4 in) wide, encircled the forehead, while a 340 mm (13 in) long nose-to-
nape band ran from front to back, its surviving back end attached to the inside of the brow band by
three rivets.[3] Two 159 mm (6.3 in) long lateral bands extended from above the ears on the brow
band to the top of the helmet, attaching to the inside by three rivets on either end.[3] The nose-to-
nape and lateral bands were narrowest at the top of the helmet, approximately 52 mm (2.0 in) and
40 mm (1.6 in) wide respectively, flaring outwards near the brow band to 150 mm (5.9 in) and
118 mm (4.6 in).[4] Four subtriangular infill plates were riveted to the inside of the helmet to cover the
remaining gaps.[3] The gaps were almost symmetrical, indicating a particular degree of skill and
foresight by its maker.[5] Other than the join of the brow band, probably located at the back, the
helmet was symmetrical.[3]
With the possible exception of an exterior leather covering, very few decorative elements adorned
the Shorwell helmet.[6] The nose-to-nape and lateral bands featured thickened edges made by
hammering the metal.[7] These ridges may have been decorative, but they may also have been
intended to serve as "stop-ribs", preventing edged weapons such as swords from glancing
downwards and striking the wearer on the shoulders or face.[8] Three copper alloy rivets are found on
the dexter side of the brow band, surrounded by what may be skin product.[9] These may have
functioned to hold an attachment strap, or a cheek guard made of something like cuir bouilli.[10] The
use of copper alloy rivets, instead of the iron ones used on the rest of the helmet, may reflect a
decorative effect reserved for a non-structural element.[7] It is possible that the exterior of the helmet
may have been covered in leather or cloth, a decoration possibly indicated on other Frankish
helmets, but it is too badly deteriorated for this to be determined.[11] Any such leather could itself have
been decorated; the leather or skin coverings of some contemporary scabbards and sheaths exhibit
impressed designs or patterns raised in relief.[12]
A helmet lining is uncertain, but is possibly indicated by traces of skin product on the interior.[13] The
exact nature of the skin product, let alone its purpose, is considered ambiguous,[14] and part of it may
have been used in relation to a cheek guard.[10] Leather linings have also been suggested for
some Late Roman and Anglo-Saxon helmets, which could also explain some of the traces in the
Shorwell example.[13] If so, this would likely have been used in conjunction with removable padding to
increase comfort and protection.[13]

Typology
The Shorwell helmet is dated to approximately 500–550 AD, based on comparisons with similar
helmets and the associated grave goods.[15] It is one of only six Anglo-Saxon helmets known,[16][17] but
it represents a different tradition; the Benty Grange, Sutton Hoo, Coppergate, Wollaston,
and Staffordshire helmets are all examples of the "crested helmets" known in Northern Europe from
the sixth through the eleventh centuries,[18][19] whereas the Shorwell helmet is of the
continental Frankish style.[20] Other sixth-century helmets found in Trivières, Belgium, and
in Bretzenheim, Germany, appear almost identical.[20] Their construction includes a continuous lateral
band in addition to the continuous nose-to-nape band, and a two-piece construction underneath
rather than an infill plate for each of the four gaps, potentially an indication of regional
variation.[20] Like the northern crested helmets, the continental Frankish examples appear to be
derivatives of the Late Roman ridge helmets[20] used in Europe during fourth and fifth centuries AD.[21]

Function
The Shorwell helmet is a barely decorated utilitarian piece.[22] Its only decorative elements are paired
with serviceable uses—the flared ends and raised edges of the nose-to-nape and lateral bands are
aesthetically pleasing while strengthening the helmet with large overlaps[22] and providing protection
from glancing blows, while the three copper alloy rivets were used in association with a strap or
cheek flap[9]—suggesting a "fighting helmet" above all.[22] It is simple yet well made and effective, and
strong;[22] one of the fragments that has survived best is from the crown of the helmet, where seven
pieces of metal overlap in what was intended to be the strongest place.[23]
Helmets were rare in Anglo-Saxon England, and though utilitarian, the Shorwell helmet signified the
high status of its owner.[24] Such protection certainly seems to have been among the armament of the
well heeled.[25][26] In the contemporary epic Beowulf, a poem about kings and nobles, they are
relatively common,[25][26] while the helmeted Vendel and Valsgärde graves from the same period in
Sweden, thought to be the burials of wealthy non-royals, suggest that helmets were not solely for the
use of the absolute élite.[27] Yet thousands of furnished Anglo-Saxon graves have been excavated
since the start of the 19th century and helmets remain rare;[16][17][28] although this could partly reflect
poor rates of artefact survival or even recognition, their extreme scarcity indicates that they were
never deposited in great numbers.[28]