Italian Archaeologists Discover 600-year-old War Helmet In Ionian Sea

A group of Italian archaeologists, in a recent search in the Ionian Sea, have discovered a metal battle helmet. The scientific divers off the coast of Sicily found a large and round object standing out from other stones in the deep sea. As a ridge was seen crossing over the object, the divers speculated it not to be a rock.

Following the same, they took the object out and found that it was ancient war gear which is said to be completely intact. The Superintendence of the Sea (SopMare), a Sicilian government organisation, is the authority for protecting these ancient artefacts in sea waters, reported the New York Post. Apart from that, it is the same organisation that announced the discovery as well.

According to reports, the discovered object has been found outside of a small island on Sicily’s southeast coast, Vendicari. While detailing the discovery, SopMare explained on a Facebook post and said that the object was found around 16 feet deep in the Ionian Sea.

Apart from the governmental organisation, the research fellows from the University of Naples also assisted with the search. As per the officials, the helmet was likely manufactured in the late 1400s to 1600s. It is a Cabasset or Capacete helmet which are Spanish and Portuguese words, respectively. It means that the historic battle gear is of an Iberian style.

SopMare further explained in the post that this type of helmet consists of a semi-spherical or oval cup with more or less inclined along the entire edge. Additionally, in some specific cases, a low upper ridge is wavy or reinforced by metal spheres as well. It further added, “It is a type of helmet which was very widespread among the infantry of that period and also used by ship troops.”

This discovery has also encouraged the research team to continue searching in the area for more information as well. SopMare wrote, “Further underwater search in the area of the invention will help in clarifying more if it is an isolated invention or it is possibly related to the presence of a late medieval or modern relic deep down the sea.”