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The Sutton Hoo Helmet
This is one of the only four complete helmets to survive from Anglo-Saxon England. It has been painstakingly reconstructed from the shattered condition in which it was found. The Sutton Hoo Helmet's exceptional survival and haunting appearance have made it an icon of the early medieval period. The helmet consists of an iron cap with a crest, neck guard, cheekpieces, and face mask. It was originally covered with tinned copper alloy panels and decorated with animal and warrior motifs. Viewed together, the helmet's mouth, nose, and eyebrows form the image of a flying beast. Similar helmets are known from eastern Sweden, implying shared cultural traditions and interactions with east Anglia. The scarcity of surviving Anglo-Saxon helmets indicates that only those of great status could possess them. From Sutton Hoo, Ship-burial Mound 1, England. Late 500s - early 600 CE.
The British Museum, London.
