There are few times in history where literature is proven true by historical records and archaeology. However, armor, and specifically helmets of the Anglo-Saxon period, have provided this intersection. Archaeological evidence of the helmets discovered in the twentieth century across England prove that primary texts can be extremely informative regarding culture and importance, especially when they carry information about items from that time period that are not present without the archaeological record.
Before the twentieth century, little was known about the armor of Anglo-Saxon warriors. None had been preserved above-ground for the thousand years since their use. Evidence regarding them came from literary works, like Beowulf and Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the British People. These texts describe the looks and functions of the helmets, as well as their importance to Anglo-Saxon's warrior culture. In order to shed light on the accuracy of the literary works, including their descriptions of helmets and their importance, archaeology had to be used.
Archaeology regarding the Anglo-Saxon experience began with the 1930s excavations of Sutton Hoo, in Kent, England. Sutton Hoo was home to an Anglo-Saxon burial mound, the resting place of an elite Anglo-Saxon warrior. Within his burial ship rested a beautifully-preserved helmet. This helmet had depictions of boars on both of its cheek guards. This supported a description given of the helmets of elite warriors from the time found in Beowulf, where lines 303-306 and 1448-1454 display imagery of boars on armor. The boar was a wild animal, fearless and an epitome of strength. Archaeological evidence of the animal and its depiction on helmets supported the thousand-year-old text, supporting the importance of the helmet to the Anglo-Saxon warriors.
The helmet’s location also gave support to its importance. The helmet was buried in a burial ship, under a mound containing riches and weaponry. This was possibly the site of a king with great wealth and connections. Helmets of this magnitude were reserved for only the rich and powerful. Unfortunately, the Sutton Hoo helmet provided only one example of a helmet from the period buried with a rich, elite warrior. Archaeology needed to be used further to support the idea.
One surviving example of a helmet from the time period was not enough to prove its widespread use. Archaeological excavations in York, England, a Roman, Anglo-Saxon, and Viking city added more evidence to the idea of helmets and their importance to Anglo-Saxon warrior culture. Another helmet, the Coppergate Helmet, was discovered in the excavations of mounds within York. The helmet’s discovery furthered the idea that helmets were a status symbol of the Anglo-Saxon rich and powerful, where warriors could display their status by obtaining elaborate headgear and safeguard and reinforce that status after death by being buried with them. The hypothesis was broadened across Europe, looking at presumably-Anglo-Saxon burial mounds in Scandinavia, Germany, the Netherlands, and the British Isles. While many of the mounds no longer retain their burial goods, archaeologists believe that the helmets once buried their symbolized the status of the deceased.
In this regard, the helmet was determined by archaeologists as being a defining status symbol to the Anglo-Saxon warrior. The helmets carried symbols on them, which signified the warrior spirit. These symbols were described in texts like Beowulf, which passed down evidence of their existence until archaeology could support it further. Therefore, archaeology can be used to prove the correctness of some works of literature.
Sutton Hoo Helmet. Note boars on cheek guards.
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