It had been dented by the digger but this damage could be repaired by archaeological conservators.

The helmet was made of iron with decorated brass trimmings. Some of the decorations were animal patterns while others took the form of a written prayer. It is one of very few helmets to have been found in this country.

We will never know how it came to be buried in a simple wood-lined pit. Perhaps it was hidden but the owner was not able to come back for it, or maybe it was stolen and hidden by a thief.

What we do know is that once it was a very valuable item which must have belonged to a warrior prince or nobleman.