ARCHAIC PERIOD, CIRCA EARLY TO MID 6TH CENTURY B.C.

By 600 B.C., the Illyrian type helmet had evolved from its origins roughly a century earlier. As seen with the present example, it was now created from a single heavy sheet, rather than two halves rivetted together, which made for a sturdier helmet. The cheek-guards were elongated and the neck-guard flared to add further protection for the soldier. It went beyond pure function, including embellishments such as decorative rivets and bone pipping around the perimeter edge, as seen here, which were purely ornamental and indicated the heightened status of the warrior.