Researchers Date Horned Helmets Discovered in Denmark
Helle Vandkilde of Aarhus University and her colleagues dated a sample of birch tar found recently on one of two horned helmets discovered in 1942 in a peat pit in eastern Denmark.
Although curved horns have long been associated with medieval Vikings in popular culture, the tests indicate that the so-called Viksø helmets were ritually deposited in the bog around 900 B.C., some 1,500 years before the Viking Age.
The helmets also bear symbols resembling the eyes and beak of a bird of prey.
Feathers are thought to have been fastened to the ends of the helmets’ horns with birch tar.
Each helmet may have also been fitted with a mane of horsehair.
Vandkilde explained that bulls’ horns and birds of prey were used as symbols of the sun in the ancient Near East, and in Sardinia and southwest Iberia during the Bronze Age.
These symbols may have traveled with traders to Scandinavia along with metals and other items, and been adopted by local leaders as the region became more politicized and centralized, she added. “And those leaders must have used religious beliefs and innovative traits, like the horns, to further their power,” Vandkilde said.
Read the original scholarly article about this research in Praehistorische Zeitschrift.
To read about a new study of a Viking helmet uncovered in Britain in the 1950s, go to “An Enduring Design.”
See more here: archaeology.org
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Herb Rose
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How can people believe that war helmets were trade items? The helmets were used by raiding parties not traders.
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T. C. Clark
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It says the horns and birds of prey as symbols may have traveled to Scandinavia with traders – not helmets. This is pre-Viking so were there any “raiders” at that time?
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Herb Rose
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As long as there have been people with things that others people want, there will be raiders. Trading only occurs when they can’t be taken. The whole purpose of the horns and symbols on helmets and armor is intimidation to make it easier to plunder, not for protection. The “ice man” found in the alps had arrows with blood from multiple people on them.
Herb
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LLOYD
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The question is, the taking by force, is it easier than trade? And humans learned to swap things a long time ago. You assume that humans only trade because they cannot take. Rather, why chance losing members of your tribe when you can trade and make new alliances rather than just conquered people?
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Herb Rose
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Hi Lloyd,
The trouble with trade is first you have to give up something you have and they want and second the other party may not want to give up what you want and need. When England began trade with China the only thing China wanted from England was silver which England did not want to give up. England introduced opium into China so they could trade without losing something they valued.
Exploring is traveling to new places looking for new resources. It usually begins like the Spanish in the Americas. It is not worth carrying around a lot of goods if you don’t know if there is a demand and it is easier to take when possible.
Herb
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T. C. Clark
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I would like to see Herb model the helmet…curious to see exactly how it fits.