Sutton Hoo vs late roman

[Nathan Beal]

The style of decoration on the Sutton Hoo helmet and shield have close parallels in Sweden ... Presumably the helmet shows the survival of a local Romano-British construction tradition.

These features are often cited as a basis for a strong link between the ruling classes in Sweden and that particular part of the UK. A number of sources suggest it was probably made on the continent and imported.

The two jewelled shoulder clasps have been usually interpreted as being from a sort of muscle-cuirass (presumably leather) ...

Recent re-enterpretations have been suggesting that this was probably from a cloak of some form (as opposed to the curiass suggested earlier). This is sensible given that sutton hoo contains a mailshirt (bundled not worn), so given that the interred wasn't armoured in that fashion why would he have had been wearing a curiass.

2d
N.