Imperial Gallic A Helmet

[Agricola]

Although the Imperial Gallic Type A is usually associated with the Augustan era, would it still have been in use by the late first century AD, or even into the early second century?

Is it suitable for the Claudian or Flavian eras? Some Roman helmet types seem long lived such as the Montefortino types during the Republic/Consular era, or the Type G Gallic or Itslic helmets, which appeared during the first century but were still in use during Bar Kochba's rebellion. Is the same possible with the Type A Imperial Gallic?

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

I would think so. Possibly why there are so many good examples in provenance?

[Agricola]

Thanks Gaius!

Is there any archaeological evidence to support the continued use of Imperial Gallic A helmets into the late first century AD? Were they still issued at that time or would they havd been passed down the generations since Augustus?

[Crispvs]

I would be very cautious about using a Gallic 'A' much past the mid first century AD. Certainly equipment stayed in use as long as it was serviceable and some items did remain in service for a very long time. In a couple of cases we have evidence for things which which may have remained in service (subject to various modifications) for as much as a century. However, such long use must have been extremely rare. If you did decide to use a Gallic 'A' for an impression of the third quarter of the first century AD (or the last quarter if you really intended to stretch it), I would suggest at least one obvious replacement cheek guard and a few dents. Anything that old would definitely look old!

[PhilusEstilius]

I would agree with what Crispvs has said with regards to the dating of such a helmet, however we have to also consider the Coolus type F found at Bosham harbour with an Oyster Shell stuck to it that is said to be 43-44 AD the Gallic A might just reach the Flavian period of 60-80 ish maybe even 5 or 10 beyond that. Therefore based on that you might just get away with it some where at a point beyond mid first century.

[Agricola]

Thanks guys, you've been a lot of help! I suppose a Gallic A really is stretching it towards the late first century. I was thinking of getting a model, but I've noticed some flaws in the shape of the neck guard for it, so it's a pass for now.

[Gaius Colletti]

The Gallic A is dated as early as 25BC or so, making it 100 years by the Flavian period, this seems too much of a stretch. The helmet is all iron, and 100 years of sanding off rust is going to have some wear and tear on the helmet.

As much as the Romans liked fashion, especially in the Mid-First Century when helmets started becoming real flashy, I can't see how the Gallic A could plausibly stretch that far and still be in serviceable condition

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Actually Matt, I think you will find Gallic 'A's were tinned Bronze in some of the finds. :-)

[Primvs Pavlvs]

The Gallic A is dated as early as 25BC or so, making it 100 years by the Flavian period, this seems too much of a stretch. The helmet is all iron, and 100 years of sanding off rust is going to have some wear and tear on the helmet.

As much as the Romans liked fashion, especially in the Mid-First Century when helmets started becoming real flashy, I can't see how the Gallic A could plausibly stretch that far and still be in serviceable condition

Not a logical argument, considering that WW1 era helmets were still in use by various nations 75 to 80 years after the war. Recently in the conflict in Syria and entire warehouse of WW2 built assault rifles were discovered. Don't discount the possibility of "ancient" equipment making appearances decades after the considered lifetime of said item.

[Gaius Colletti]

That is a notable point Byron, still I think 100 years is a stretch.

However Primus Palus Paul M, if my argument is illogical, than yours is even more so. Please elaborate on how the helmets such as the Pickelhaube were used just about into the 21st century.

I don't know where they teach you math, but are you suggesting that WW1 helmets were still in service up until a decade ago? Perhaps you warped your statement into meaning that helmets related to WW1 helmets are still in production? I mean the current KEVLAR helmets of the US Armed forces appear to be similar to the M1 helmet used by the US in WW2, but are in no way the same helmet.

[jkaler48]

Military equipment can remain in service much longer than most people realize. The WW2 M1 helmet shell
saw many original examples still in use 40 years later when the Kevlar helmet was adopted. Even now some plastic canteens and entrenching tools from as early as 1968 can occasionally be found still be used some 50 years later. Examples of military equipment having a term of service even longer can being found if use of hand me down equipment by poorer countries is considered. The possibilities for long service terms of durable items in the Roman Legion like the Gallic A are likely similar with some
examples remaining in use much longer than would be expected. However like their modern counterparts the longer the time the less often they would be encountered which is a consideration for how many should be used in reenacting time periods more remote from their common use.

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Considering how long the montefortino type was around, I think fifty years
Is a hairs breadth to be honest! I imagine they would be used as long as they were serviceable!
They are certainly a robust design!
But I agree they would be less so by the end of the century!

[Pontius Agrippa]

The recent discovery of a helmet of the type A (Nijmegen) dates from the middle of the 1st Century AD. He comes from a private collection.
It occurs in parallel with the type of Haguenau in the Augustan period towards the end of the 1st century BC. on.
50 to 60 years of service for a helmet are very realistic.
So the last helmet of the type Hagenau is dated to the year 70 AD.

[Agricola]

Thanks everyone who has answered!

It does seem some military equipment has a long shelf life. I remember reading that rifles used during World War I (which were first manufactured in c.1890's) are still in use by some armies today, usually in a role as sniper rifles. In the Soviet-Afghan war some Afghan troops were still using flintlock muskets. Samurai armor also kept the basic design unchanged between the late 15th to the mid 19th centuries, with some armor being passed down from father to son for generations.

Therefore it might not be too much of a stretch to see some Roman helmets in use for many decades. Afterall, it's possible that Gallic A types continued to be manufactured in the early first century AD, even after Augustus's death. It's possible for these helmets to be passed down the generations, but that they become more scarce as time goes by. It also makes sense when you consider how expensive armor could be, how time consuming it was to manufacture, and the poverty of the people. In those types of conditions people are going to carry on using equipment until it becomes unservicable.

[Primvs Pavlvs]

Matt, you are a funny guy!
:unsure: