Canterbury helmet facts for kids
The Canterbury Helmet is a very old helmet from the Iron Age. It was discovered in December 2012 near Canterbury, Kent, England. This special helmet is made of bronze. It's one of only a few Iron Age helmets ever found in Britain. Today, the helmet is kept at the British Museum. Experts there are carefully working to preserve it. Mr. Trevor Rodgers found the helmet. He also found an iron brooch and a pin nearby. It's believed the helmet once held a bag with human ashes.
How the Helmet Was Made
This helmet was crafted from thin sheets of bronze. It has a special shape called the "Coolus" style. This style was popular with Gallic warriors and Roman soldiers. The helmet has a bowl shape. It also has a flared back part. This flared part helped protect the wearer's neck. This type of helmet was common in Europe. However, it is not often found in Britain. This might be because not many items from that time have been discovered there.
Where Did the Helmet Come From?
It's not fully clear where the Canterbury Helmet came from. Some historians think it might have belonged to a Roman soldier. This soldier could have been part of Caesar's Invasions of Britain. Other experts believe it was owned by a British fighter. This fighter might have worked as a mercenary. They could have fought against the Romans in Gaul. In that case, they might have adopted a European helmet style. Still, other historians and archaeologists think the helmet was simply inspired by Gallic designs. Since the helmet was found recently in 2012, experts are still debating its true story.
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