an odd helmet

[marcos]

Some days ago I had the opportuny to look at an helmet having an absolutely odd feature.

It was found in Thrace , togheter several fragments of a lorica hamata -with still embedded some small fragments of bones - and horse fitments. Surely everything owned to a horseman, dead in a battle.
Although only the rear half is surviving , togheter some pieces of the front , it seems without doubt a late type (niederbieber).

The strange feature is that it has the nose pieces :!:

That is not a medieval insertion , although fixed by rivets, because the helmet has the part over eyes rounded to accept the piece.

Beside, another one observatio: this type of helmet are normally linked to infantry , but in this case the evidence is quite different, it was wore by an horseman.

here the rear


the nose protection


and the view of some fragments


As far i can see , it is the only roman helmet armed with this protection .