03-27-2004, 05:53 PM
Uwe,<br>
The helmet is virtually identical to the cupric alloy Aux. Cavalry F under Robinson classification except made completely of IRON!<br>
While this may not seem so extraodinary at first glance, it differs from the known iron "Niederbieber/AuxCavD-E helmets in that these all have applied Cupric alloy earguards, whereas these are forged from the iron bowl, exactly in the style of the Imp Gallic F helmets previously only known in cupric alloy. This helmet confirms a trend we are seeing as more and more helmets come to light, in that for virtually every cupric alloy "imperial era Roman helmet, there seems to be a near identical version in iron. The most spectacular recent example of this is the Gutmann iron version of the incredible Niedermormter helmet.<br>
<br>
Chariovaldi,<br>
<br>
Yes it is a private find, and unfortunately lacks a provenance, though this is not so bad in this case for we have a good idea of the period in which these helmets range. Most of these privately found helmets would likely have never been found through proper archaeological excavation, and I therefore believe that it is better that they are brought to light, even under these less-than-perfect circumstances, than to never be discovered at all, eventually rusting away to nothing.<br>
<br>
Be assured this helmet will be fully published scientifically in the near future. In fact, using the Gutmann collection as just one example, artifacts in private collections are sometimes published more quickly and exhibited to the public much quicker than many similar objects languishing for years in the storage areas of 'public', museums staffed by professsional archaeologists. Remember too, that some of the most important museums housing Roman military artifacts, such as the Kam at Nijmegen, was originally a private collection.<br>
<br>
We will never fully curtail this illicit searching. By outlawing it, you only insure that the objects will never be studied scientifically. Fantastic finds are brought to light all the time by private detecting enthusiasts in Britain, who report their finds to the authorities since they know they will be fairly paid if the museum wants the object. In the less-enlightened countries of continental, "Old Europe", important finds are secretly sold away on the black market, for the finder knows if he reports it, the object will be taken from him without payment, and he himself likely fined. This is the greatest tragedy, and largely preventable if the professionals did not have such a haughty attitude, much like the nobility of "old Europe" forbidding the mere peasants from hunting on their royal estates. It is good that there are buyers for these rusty military objects, for the private searchers will never stop looking for coins and jewelry of precious metals. At least now, with collectors, they may also sell their bits of military equipment that they otherwise would leave behind or later throw away.<br>
<br>
Dan<br>
<p></p><i></i>
The helmet is virtually identical to the cupric alloy Aux. Cavalry F under Robinson classification except made completely of IRON!<br>
While this may not seem so extraodinary at first glance, it differs from the known iron "Niederbieber/AuxCavD-E helmets in that these all have applied Cupric alloy earguards, whereas these are forged from the iron bowl, exactly in the style of the Imp Gallic F helmets previously only known in cupric alloy. This helmet confirms a trend we are seeing as more and more helmets come to light, in that for virtually every cupric alloy "imperial era Roman helmet, there seems to be a near identical version in iron. The most spectacular recent example of this is the Gutmann iron version of the incredible Niedermormter helmet.<br>
<br>
Chariovaldi,<br>
<br>
Yes it is a private find, and unfortunately lacks a provenance, though this is not so bad in this case for we have a good idea of the period in which these helmets range. Most of these privately found helmets would likely have never been found through proper archaeological excavation, and I therefore believe that it is better that they are brought to light, even under these less-than-perfect circumstances, than to never be discovered at all, eventually rusting away to nothing.<br>
<br>
Be assured this helmet will be fully published scientifically in the near future. In fact, using the Gutmann collection as just one example, artifacts in private collections are sometimes published more quickly and exhibited to the public much quicker than many similar objects languishing for years in the storage areas of 'public', museums staffed by professsional archaeologists. Remember too, that some of the most important museums housing Roman military artifacts, such as the Kam at Nijmegen, was originally a private collection.<br>
<br>
We will never fully curtail this illicit searching. By outlawing it, you only insure that the objects will never be studied scientifically. Fantastic finds are brought to light all the time by private detecting enthusiasts in Britain, who report their finds to the authorities since they know they will be fairly paid if the museum wants the object. In the less-enlightened countries of continental, "Old Europe", important finds are secretly sold away on the black market, for the finder knows if he reports it, the object will be taken from him without payment, and he himself likely fined. This is the greatest tragedy, and largely preventable if the professionals did not have such a haughty attitude, much like the nobility of "old Europe" forbidding the mere peasants from hunting on their royal estates. It is good that there are buyers for these rusty military objects, for the private searchers will never stop looking for coins and jewelry of precious metals. At least now, with collectors, they may also sell their bits of military equipment that they otherwise would leave behind or later throw away.<br>
<br>
Dan<br>
<p></p><i></i>
