Returning to the Vendel helmets, these may be regarded not only as protective gear, but also as objects of art. Incidentally, this design was also used for the Spangenhelm, a type of helmet that was popular in Europe during the medieval period. Vendel helmets were made of iron and, like the Late Roman ridge helmet its “bowl” (the part covering the cranium) consisted of two or four parts that were held together by a longitudinal ridge. Some, for instance, have suggested that the Vendel helmets were copied and adapted from gladiatorial helmets, whilst others suggest that they had their origins in the Roman parade helmets, or in the crested or ridge helmets used by soldiers during the Late Roman period. Generally speaking, scholars are of the opinion that the Vendel helmets were inspired by Roman helmets used during the Late Roman Empire. Although it is almost certain that the helmets were made in Scandinavia, questions remain about how and when this type of helmet appeared in the region. As a type, these helmets have been appropriately referred to as Vendel helmets. Helmets are arguably the most impressive grave goods found at Vendel period cemeteries. (Statens Historiska Museum / CC BY 2.5 ) Vendel Helmets Found at Vendel Cemeteries Vendel helmets were made of iron and have been discovered in various Vendel period cemeteries. Moreover, the Vikings seem to have preferred silver to gold. By comparison, grave goods from the succeeding Viking Period are noticeably plainer. It has been noted that grave goods from the Vendel period are normally gold-plated and richly adorned. These included practical objects, such as weapons and armor, as well as those for pleasure, such as board games. Prior to the burial, the boat would be filled with all sorts of grave goods that the deceased may need in the afterlife. For such a burial, a boat would be brought up on land and transported to the burial grounds. The most spectacular find at the site, however, were the 15 boat burials. Archaeologists unearthed at least 62 cremation burials, as well as 15 inhumations and chamber graves. Subsequently, it was almost completely excavated. When the site of Valsgärde was discovered in the 1929, it was found that the burial grounds were almost entirely intact. Why Is This the Only Existing Viking Age Helmet?.Archaeologists are Ecstatic that a Major Viking Age Manor is Finally Found in Sweden.Gladiator Helmets: Fit for Purpose, Not Just Protectio n.More importantly, they left behind material culture, which has since been excavated by archaeologists. Although the people living in Sweden during the Vendel period did not leave behind any written records of their own, they were written about by people from other parts of Europe. In other words, this was the period that immediately preceded the Viking Age. According to archaeologists, this period began in around 550 AD and lasted until 800 AD. The sites of Vendel and Valsgärde are both situated in Uppland, on the eastern coast of Sweden, and were used as burial grounds during the Vendel period. (Johan Anund / CC BY-SA 3.0 ) Vendel and Valsgärde: Burial Grounds from the Vendel Period Archaeologists have uncovered a wide range of burials including 15 boat burials. The Valsgärde burial ground in Uppland, Sweden, was discovered in 1929. Similar helmets have also been found outside Sweden, in particular, England. Considered to be some of the most impressive grave goods at Vendel and Valsgärde, they have been dubbed Vendel helmets. At these burial sites a number of helmets have been found. Both of these sites were once used as burial grounds, and it is from the former that a period in Swedish prehistory, the Vendel period, derived its name. Vendel and Valsgärde are two archaeological sites located in Sweden.
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