Medieval irish helmets

[branmacmaelmordha]

HAS ANYONE INFO ON VIKING HELMETS FOUND IN AROUND ATHA CLIATH OR ANYWERE ELSE IN EIRE,IVE BEEN TALKING TO A FREIND FROM POLSKI THATS LIVING IN ATHA CLIATH AND HES AMAZED THAT HE CANT FIND INFO ON IT..SO ANY WEB SITE OR BOOKS I CAN HAVE A LOOK AT GO RAIBH MHAITH AGUT

[Swifty]

Easy answer to that is that there are none.

In fact there are only two medieval helmets on the Irish archaeological record and both are post-viking age.

Cheers

[the_power]

Viking-era helmets in the archeological record are pretty rare, and as Swifty says, non-existant here. I think two or three have been found in scandinavia, so compare that with 800+ swords and 3000+ spears catalogued, the case for helmets is pretty weak.

If possible, it's best not to wear a helmet when doing Viking stuff, unless you have the kit for a noble, or need to wear it for safety reasons. I usually go with a leather helmet - it may have no provenance, but at least it'll protect you from most blows, and you could pretend that "they might all have rotted away or have been recycled".

John

[kevin714]

Easy answer to that is that there are none.

In fact there are only two medieval helmets on the Irish archaeological record and both are post-viking age.

Cheers

Any info pictures or descriptions of these helmets?

[KimPierri]

Hi

Its helmets like these:
http://www.bearclawtraders.co.uk/vendel ... helmet.htm

Kim

[the_power]

Uh...Kim, I'm pretty sure nothing like those have ever been found in Ireland.

John

[Swifty]

Bran and Kevin

The post-viking helmets to which I referred are both of the general Bascinet type with the characteristic high pointed crown. The first with a riverine provinence in Co Laois is quite fragmentary but appears to conform to type. The other is an unusual type from Co Down with an almost-enclosed face-guard a bit like the Barbutta which itself was based on the classical Corinthian style. The Down helmet is further unique due to its eyebrow and other applied decoration c/f vendel/valsgarde types suggesting - perhaps - dare I say - a Scandinavian/Galloglass link... I do have pics of both these helmets somewhere - give me a bit of time and I should be able to route them out - hopefully...!

Kim, yeah I have to agree with John, that type of vendel helm is not an entry on the Irish record to date - though I would wish that it was! Nor is it post-viking in age, but rather, the reverse.

Sláinte

[Swifty]

First thing to say is that this thread should prob be changed to Late Medieval Helmets rather than Viking Helmets as we are off the beaten track a little.

Ok, I have routed out one of the aforesaid pics to date:



This is a Late Medieval Bascinet which was yielded from the old bed of the River Nore from Clashnamuck in Co Laois very close to Borris-In-Ossory. The other helm article I will continue to search for - but I do expect it to show soon!!

Sláinte for now

[knightofredemption]

Thread moved, glad to be of service

Paul

[Swifty]

Good job Paul - and, noticed you put it under a more appropriate title too.