An exceptionally rare gold-plated fragment of a pre-Viking helmet adorned with red gemstones was discovered in Lejre, Denmark, the historic power center of the Vikings.
The helmet fragment dates from between 650 and 750 CE, just before the commencement of the Viking Age. The period bridges the gap between the Germanic Iron Age and the era traditionally associated with Viking expansion.
“In itself, finding helmet parts is a rare thing in Denmark. This piece comes from what must have been one of Scandinavia’s most magnificent helmets,” said Julie Nielsen, ROMU’s archaeological director, according to Videnskab.
The fragment consists of two parts made from bronze, gilded in gold, and set with red garnets—gemstones historically associated with strength. Together, these pieces form most of the helmet’s brow ridge, revealing a distinct curved shape. Uniquely, they make up the helmet’s eyebrow arch, which is constructed in one piece, unlike other helmets of the period that were typically assembled from separate brackets.
The level of artistry exhibited is on par with that behind the famous Sutton Hoo helmet found in England. According to Nielsen, such a piece would have been worn by a king or a figure of the highest rank in Lejre’s hierarchical society.
“The ornamentation—an animal with distinctive teeth and large eyes—reflects the style we know from the later Germanic Iron Age; the fragment is from the period between CE 650 and 750,” added Nielsen, as reported by HeritageDaily.
During the Late Germanic Iron Age, Lejre was a “political and religious elite site” where people worshipped the gods, revered the nobility, and engaged in trade, largely free from local conflict. Similar helmet fragments with comparable designs have been found in England and Sweden, indicating extensive connections between these regions.
“This discovery contributes to our understanding of the Younger Germanic Iron Age,” Nielsen noted, according to Ekstra Bladet.
“We don’t know much about it, but it is a really, really rare find,” Nielsen said. The exact purpose of the helmet remains unknown, but it may have served ceremonial or symbolic functions rather than practical military use.
“It shows that Lejre was at the center of an axis. Trade was a very important focal point here,” explained Nielsen in the press release.
The gold-plated helmet fragment was discovered by two detectorists from Jutland and Sweden at Lillebro near Lejre. It can be seen at Lejre Museum.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.
This article was originally published at www.jpost.com
