A 2,500-year-old Illyrian helmet that may have been a votive sacrifice or part of a cult practice was discovered by archaeologists excavating a burial mound in Croatia, Live Science reported on May 7.
An Illyrian helmet was discovered in a stone structure on a mound at the Gomile archaeological site in Croatia. It dates to the period between the end of the 6th century BC and the beginning of the 4th century BC, said Hrvoje Potrebica, a professor of archeology at the University of Zagreb, who is leading the excavations.
There are several mounds at Gomila, the site itself is located near the village of Zakotorac, on the Peljesac peninsula, near the Adriatic Sea. “Every mound [содержит] several tombs, and each tomb contains several burials”Consumer said.
According to ancient Greek records, at the time the helmet was made, a people the Greeks called Illyrians flourished in the region. The Illyrians divided into several tribes and kingdoms and were gradually conquered by the Romans in a series of wars that took place between 229 and 168 BC.
Although the newly found helmet has not yet been preserved, according to Potrebitsa, “seems to be in perfect condition”. The stone structure containing the helmet is separate from all the tombs in the mound, suggesting that it was intended as a votive offering. “to deceased ancestors or as part of some cult practice associated with the entire mound rather than with a specific person or grave”Consumer said.
The director of the archaeological museum, Domagoj Perkic, who is working on the excavations, also noted that if the newly found helmet were used in battle, it could have a psychological effect on the enemy. “Just try to imagine a warrior with a brilliant [шлемом] on the head, in the sun, on the eve of battle… this moment causes astonishment in the enemy”he added.
In 2020, archaeologists already found a helmet in a stone structure on a neighboring mound. Like the recently found helmet, Potrebitsa said, it was probably not intended for the burial of any particular person.
Source: Rossa Primavera
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