[MR] Archaeology News: Sunken Helmets

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends,

Earlier this week Archaeology News reported the results of scientific tests
has fixed the dating of corroded helmets dredged up from a harbor in Spain.

The helmets, actually two blobs of corroded metal, were found by fishermen
in 1990. The masses contained 43 individual helmets fuzed together, and
initially thought by some historians to be Roman.

Radiocarbon dating of surviving textile fragments from the helmet linings
proved them to be late medieval, likely mid-14th to early-15th century.
Study of the helmet styles suggests these were simple garrison-quality
helms of a type issued to common soldiers, not fancy helms that would have
been worn by wealthy nobles. It is thought that the helmets were a shipment
accidently dropped overboard during loading or unloading from a wharf that
existed in the area.

The whole story, and photos, are at
https://archaeologymag.com/2026/06/spains-largest-medieval-helmet-lost-weapons-shipment/
.

Yours Aye,

Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆
Continuing a crusade to keep the original Merry Rose relevant and in
business.