Praha / Gnezdovo helmet - Inner circumference 66cm

This nasal helmet is composed of two parts linked by a top crosspiece characterized by a large number of rivets. A very similar specimen, but without a nasal, was discovered in Gnezdovo. This helmet, although it was used by Great Moravia warrior, client state of the Carolingians, was probably forged in Slavic territory.

The helmet was most probably found by an amateur in Bojná I (Valy) in 1997, before official excavations started in 2007. The hillfort Bojná was protected by massive walls (6 meters height) and was a very important place at the times. In the 9th century, the hillfort was densely populated and belonged to one of largest Great Moravian agglomeration in what is now Slovakia.
Many workshops (smithies as example) and hundreds artifacts were excavated at the site.
Along with artisanal and farmers tools, a large amount of weapons including battle axes, scramasaxes, swords and knives were found. The presence of elite warriors can be documented, among other evidences, by spurs, chain mail fragments, gold-plated parts of military equipment.