Viking helmets were typically made from multiple pieces of iron riveted together in a style known as spangenhelm.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
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Spangenhelm Construction: The most common type of Viking helmet was the spangenhelm. This construction involved assembling a helmet from several shaped pieces of iron.
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Iron Pieces: These pieces (the "spangen") were carefully shaped and then joined together using rivets. This method was more efficient than forging a helmet from a single piece of iron, especially given the technology of the time.
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Riveting: Rivets were crucial for holding the helmet together. They provided a strong and relatively easy way to connect the iron plates.
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Pre-Viking and Post-Viking Helmets: It's important to note that before and after the Viking era, helmets were often made from a single piece of hammered iron. Examples include earlier helmets and later Norman helms. The Viking era (roughly 8th to 11th centuries) had a distinct preference for the spangenhelm style.
Therefore, unlike some earlier or later helmet-making techniques, Viking helmets most often employed a multi-piece, riveted construction.
