Unique medieval helmet discovered in Georgia – History Blog

Unique medieval helmets and chainmail shirts were discovered at the historic fortress of Rustavi in ​​central Georgia. The helmet and chainmail shirt date to the 9th or 10th century, and this helmet is the only one from this period found in Transcaucasia.

Rustavi, located approximately 15 miles southeast of Tbilisi, was one of the earliest cities in the Georgian Kingdom of Iberia (also known as Caucasus Iberia). The fort was built in the 5th century AD on a hill overlooking the Kura River. It was rebuilt in three stages during the Middle Ages and traces of fire and battle were found, including the remains of charred wood.

The helmet and chainmail shirt were found close to each other in room six of the fortress. Further excavations in Chamber Six also revealed numerous glazed earthenware pots, jugs, pitchers and bowls.

Experts believe the armor may have belonged to an elite soldier or commander stationed in Rustavi. The iron helmet features a removable muzzle plate, reflecting advanced craftsmanship and design, possibly influenced by Byzantine or Persian models. The chainmail shirt is made up of thousands of interconnected iron rings and is in remarkably good condition considering the moist soil of the area.

The discovery also helps fill a major gap in the archaeological record. There are few surviving examples of early medieval armor in the Caucasus, and none are documented to this degree of completeness. The discovery provides direct material evidence of how warfare techniques evolved over the centuries during the formation of the Georgian feudal state – an era marked by Arab, Byzantine and local interactions.

Archaeologists are now conducting metallurgical analysis to determine alloy composition and manufacturing techniques. Early observations suggest that the items may have been produced locally, suggesting that Georgian armorers of the time possessed high technical skills comparable to their regional counterparts.

Excavation of the fortress began in July as part of the largest archaeological project in the city’s history, which is also open to field trips to any Year 12 students who wish to take part in exploring Rustavi’s past. This year, more than 100 young people volunteered to participate in the archaeological survey, and the cumulative number of participants exceeded 500. Significant discoveries have been made, including the 2020 discovery of medieval Bronze Age tombs dating from the 18th to 19th centuries BC, proving that Rustavi was settled at least four or five centuries earlier than previously known.

The city plans to turn the fort into an open-air museum, where visitors can watch excavations in progress and learn about the site’s history and prehistory. Armor and helmets are currently undergoing conservation. Once they are clean and stable, they will be put on display at the Rustavi Museum.