Carlos Solis
Researchers believe the Montefortino-style helmet discovered near the Egadi Islands was lost in the decisive battle of the First Punic War in 241 B.C.
The Montefortino helmet was a traditional piece of Roman military gear designed to protect the top of the head. It was used from the 4th century B.C. until the 50s A.D. Compared to earlier models, it featured a wider faceplate and nape guard. This type of helmet was characterized by a distinctive crest holder with a hole for attaching a plume made of feathers or horsehair. The helmet’s name comes from a Celtic burial site in Montefortino, northern Italy. The design was inspired by helmets worn by the Celts and Gauls.
Found on the Mediterranean seabed, the helmet was likely lost during the Battle of the Egadi Islands, which ended the war.
On March 10, 241 B.C., Carthage (in modern-day Tunisia) and Rome clashed in the Battle of the Egadi Islands. According to the ancient historian Polybius, although the Carthaginians outnumbered the Roman army, the Romans were better prepared and defeated them decisively. As a result, Carthage surrendered Sicily, bringing an end to the 23-year-long First Punic War.
What else is known about the team’s discoveries?
Last year, a team of archaeological divers from the Society for the Documentation of Underwater Objects discovered the helmet along with three dozen other metal artifacts. The researchers were excavating in the area where the ancient battle took place.
“This Montefortino helmet is one of the most beautiful and best-preserved ever found,” said Francesco Paolo Scarpinato, the regional advisor for cultural heritage.
Previously, at least six other helmets believed to be related to that battle had been discovered near the Egadi Islands.
Among the new finds were rust-covered artifacts that researchers examined with computed tomography (CT) scans, including spears and darts. These metal items may have ended up in the sea after a Roman ship was captured by the Carthaginians.
The Montefortino was the most common type of helmet of its time. Cheek plates were also found alongside it, said Jeffrey Royal, an independent archaeologist who did not participate in the new study but has previously discovered several similar artifacts from the Battle of the Egadi Islands, in an interview with Live Science.
