A Legionary of the Marcomannic Wars.

[jho]

Salvete,

The Theilenhofen helmet was found as a deposit (together with the cavalry helmet) in a stone building of the vicus of the fort of Theilenhofen, the building was destroyed by fire. The floor of the building contained fragments of Antonine sigallata and a coin of Commodus (189 AD), other finds indicate use of the building through the end of the 2nd century and into the first third of the 3rd century. The helmets themselves do not show any traces of a fire and may therefore have been hidden in the building AFTER it had been destroyed by fire. They are PRESUMED to have had a long history of use prior to their deposition and therefore usually dated around the middle of the 2nd century but earlier or later dates are possible.

Sites from the Marcomannic wars such as Burgstall, Iza, Eining-Unterfeld or actually yield helmet of the Niederbieber type.

The mail doubling would appear rather old and obsolete at this period and breast plates such as the one found at Burgstall more likely.