Roman Helmet Appeal

Submitted by Sophie Cringle on Wed, 2010-09-22 14:30
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A Roman helmet of national significance, found in Crosby Garrett, North Cumbria, will be auctioned on 7th October.

Roman Helmet, copyright Christies images 2010 Roman Helmet, copyright Christies images 2010 Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery in Carlisle, Cumbria, has launched an urgent public and corporate appeal to help to secure this exceptionally rare Roman Cavalry Parade Helmet, dating from the end of the 1st to mid 3rd century AD, as a centrepiece for its new £1.5m Roman Frontier: stories beyond Hadrian’s Wall gallery, due to open summer 2011.

The helmet was found by a metal detector user earlier this year and was reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme, a voluntary scheme that records archaeological objects found by members of the public in England and Wales.

There are only two other comparable helmets known in the UK and neither of these is as complete or elaborate as the Cumbrian example that is a Roman copper-alloy two-piece face mask visor helmet. This type of mask is characterised by idealised (Greek) youthful male faces, mostly clean-shaven, with luxuriant curly and wavy hair.

According to an extract in the diary of Flavius Arrianus, 136AD, ‘those of high rank or superior horsemanship wear gilded helmets to draw attention of the spectators. Unlike helmets made for active service, they are made to fit all round the faces of the riders with apertures for the eyes.’

Tullie House’s archaeology collections are extensive with a particularly important collection of Roman Cumbria material, especially from Carlisle and the Hadrian’s Wall area. In the development of its collections Tullie House prioritises artefacts that are judged to be of high importance to the local heritage and to ensure that items remain or are returned to Cumbria.

Tullie House needs to raise between £300-400,000 to secure this major Roman artefact and is launching an urgent public and corporate appeal to encourage individuals and businesses to pledge their support now to keep the Cumbrian Roman Helmet in Cumbria.

To help keep this significant find in Cumbria, pledge your support by phoning Tullie House Museum on 01228 618743 or donate via the Just Giving website