Cavalry combat helmet

Roman Britain, 1st century AD
From Witcham Gravel, Ely, Cambridgeshire

The helmet would have protected the wearer's head with an inner iron head-piece and neck-guard, which are now largely missing. Though the small bosses would have helped deflect blows from weapons, the outer bronze casing is mostly decorative.

A silvery coating of tin was applied to the dome, neck-guard and cheek-pieces, giving a striking contrast with the golden-coloured bronze parts.