Helmets more than 1,000 years old

The Viking helmet was made of iron, but it was rusted and damaged after being buried in the ground for a long time.

Dr Chris Caple at Durham University and his Skull 3D  colleagues studied the age of an ancient helmet and concluded it was a Viking helmet from the 10th century, BBC reported on August 9. This is the first helmet of its kind found in the UK and the second most complete Viking helmet in the world, the other located in Gjermundbu, Norway.

Workers discovered the ancient helmet during excavation work to install sewer pipes in the town of Yarm, Stockton-on-Tees, from the 1950s. It has been on display at the Preston Park Museum since 2012. Before Caple's research, the age of the hat was controversial.

The team of scientists used evidence from mens skull sweater recent discoveries, combined with metallographic and damage analysis, to understand the helmet's past. Caple's research is published in the journal Medieval Archeology.

"This is a challenging research project because the thin layer of iron is now very fragile. It must be stored in a very dry environment. The study is not only about determining the year the hat was made, but also to find out if it survives. what it was like until the 1950s," Caple said.

"Our analysis shows that the helmet was initially preserved in a flooded environment. Then it corroded and began to rot. Fortunately, the helmet was discovered before it was completely destroyed. damaged," he added.