Find Spot record 719/1/4 - Condate - Northwich Helmet

<1> Royal Archaeological Institute, 1845-Present, Archaeological Journal, Arch J 1971 - Vol 128, p.31-77, Jones G D B, 'Excavations at Northwich (Condate)' (Journal/Periodical). SCH338.

'The Helmet and Associated Material', J.G. Price, p.45-8.
Iron cavalry helmet found in 1969 by members of the Northwich Archaeology Group in the side of a trench cut during construction work in an area of development south of Waterloo Road. Contained within the almost complete helmet, was a number of iron fragments.

<2> University of Salford (Centre for Applied Archaeology), 2016, Rediscovering Roman Northwich. Phase 1: Assessment of the Archaeological Archive, Appendix 3: 'Roman Cavalry Helmet Report', M.Warhurst (Report). SCH8149.

The Northwich helmet is one of the few recorded examples of Roman military helmets found in Britain. It is an iron helmet belonging to an auxiliary cavalryman serving in the Roman army in the late first century AD. No exact parallels have been traced but the type is shown on grave stones from Cologne and Mainz in Germany dated to the period AD75 to AD100.

Members of the Northwich Archaeology and Local Studies Group, keeping a watching brief on redevelopment in the area of Waterloo Road, rescued the Northwich helmet from the side of a sewer trench. The contractors' machinery had dislodged it slightly from what appears to have been a small pit cut into the natural sand. Inside the helmet were several fragments of iron (cheek pieces) and one pottery sherd. The helmet survived in mineralised form with little metal remaining; it had split into two pieces. Conservation of the helmet was undertaken by the North West Museums Service between 1978-80.

The casque is made from wrought iron decorated with embossed hair impressions formed by four concentric rings starting at the crown of the head; locks of hair within each ring are represented by shallow arcs of decoration. The helmet has a deep neck guard which ends in a short neck flange. There are six rivet holes for the cheek pieces and ear guards; the remains of the ear guards are present, though the original cheek pieces are absent. The Attic crest is also absent but its original presence is attested by a fragment of mineralised copper alloy sheathing near an ear piece. The helmet has two dents in the area of the right forehead; the neck flange also appeared damaged.

The copper alloy sheathed cheek pieces found with the helmet are not thought to be original to that helmet; they are similar to a type generally fitted to 'Phrygian cap' helmets, used by archers (sagittari). The design is a truncated lozenge shaped shield of German type overlain with a pelta shaped shield, this is associtaed with eastern, particularly Persian, armies. Behind the shield is a barbed spear and short stabbing spear, and below that, a bow. The design is unusual for a cheek piece but appears to be associated with Roman triumphal imagery.

It seems that the helmet and cheek pieces were deliberately disposed of in a pit, perhaps because they were damaged. The helmet appears to have received heavy blows to the forehead and had lost its original cheek pieces; the Attic crest was also absent. The pit also contained a large sherd of a locally produced, imitation samian bowl of type Dragendorf 37, indicating an early second century AD date.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ67SE3 (Index). SCH2487.

See linked card

<4> Council for British Archaeology, Various, CBA Group 5 Archaeological Newsletter, Sept 1970, No. 16, p.8, J.B.Curzon (Newsletter). SCH547.

Roman iron helmet found at the Castle site in 1969.