Roman cavalry face masks found across Britain at Tutuberg, Ribchester, and Crosby Garrett. One Roman cavalryman rode into battle in the Tutuberg forest wearing a silver face mask and did not return Only three Roman face masks have ever been found in Britain The Ribchester helmet was discovered in 1796 by a boy playing behind his house in Lancaster

Only three Roman cavalry face masks have ever been found in Britain. The Ribchester helmet was discovered in 1796 by a boy playing behind his house in Ribchester, Lancashire, buried with 30+ pieces of cavalry equipment near a Roman fort. The Crosby Garrett helmet was found in 2010 by a metal detectorist, deliberately folded and placed face down before burial. These silver masks with idealized young faces have been discovered across the entire Roman empire, from Syria to Algeria to the Rhine.

Key Facts

  • One Roman cavalryman rode into battle in the Tutuberg forest wearing a silver face mask and did not return
  • Only three Roman face masks have ever been found in Britain
  • The Ribchester helmet was discovered in 1796 by a boy playing behind his house in Lancaster
  • The helmet was buried alongside more than 30 other pieces of cavalry equipment near a Roman fort abandoned 16 centuries earlier
  • The Crosby Garrett helmet was found in 2010 by a metal detectorist in 67 pieces in a remote Cumbrian hamlet
  • The Crosby Garrett visor had been placed face down and the helmet deliberately folded before burial
  • Masks depict idealized young faces with smooth, calm, blank expressions; some are female with elaborate hairstyles made of delicate chains
  • Some masks have tiny glass rings set into the eyes to imitate an iris
  • Replicas have been tested: eyeholes provide workable field of vision and breathing is not restricted
  • The metal is the same quality used in standard combat helmets
  • The masks have been found across the former Roman empire from Syria to Algeria to the banks of the Rhine

Related site: Pyramide von 1810 (Mire), hist. Nullmeridian von Mannheim (Kurpfalz) — view location, images, and history on the Ancient Nerds map.

Source: 5 Ancient Masks That Can't Be Explained by Dark5 Ancient Mysteries