This article takes a look at the Berkasovo pair of helmets (dubbed the Berkasovo I and II), now proudly featured in our group on two of our senior members. The Berkasovo I is in particular an iconic piece, and alongside the Budapest and Intercisa IV helmets forms one of the hallmarks by which any Roman enthusiast can identify a re-enactor wearing or artwork displaying a panoply of the late Roman empire. To some needlessly decadent, to others a symbol of Rome still maintaining their military standards of excellence despite the hardships of the 4th Century (after all, a great army requires great equipment, particularly in antiquity), the Berkasovo helmets are some of the highest status looking pieces of kit to be found in any army throughout history. 

This superb pair of Late Roman helmets were found in 1955 in Berkasovo, Serbia, near the Roman settlement of Sirmium (modern-day Sremska Mitrovica).  The site itself dates back to at least the 4th century BC, mentioned as being occupied by Illyrians and Celts, before the Romans conquered the province in the 1st century BC. Sirmium was declared capital of the province of Pannonia at this time. The city was later elevated to the status of one of the four imperial capitals in AD 294.

The settlement was also the home of the praetorian prefecture of Illyricum as of AD 347 (a prefecture being the largest administrative division of land in the late Roman world, of which there were four), making Sirmium an important settlement in the Roman Empire for centuries. It also boasted a population of allegedly 100,000, although more conservative estimates suggest 7,000 (however the amount of grain imported between AD 1 and AD 400 seems a suitable amount to have fed between 700,000 and 1,000,000 inhabitants). The modern region of Syrmia (Srem) was named after Sirmium. Sirmium was also birthplace to several Roman Emperors, including Aurelian, was the site at which Theodosius I (the last emperor of a unified empire) was crowned, and proved a popular visiting spot for others including Marcus Aurelius who may even have died in the city in AD 180. 

Berkasovo herself is a smaller village less than one hour from Sirmium, likely a small village at the time or possibly a mansio (a rest point along a major road, incorporating a small inn, stables, and accommodation). One source suggests the helmets were deposited in what seems to be a Roman pantry, which would fit this theory rather neatly. 

As Sirmium and the surrounding region became overtaken by Gothic tribes in the latter half of the 4th century, it seems reasonable to suggest that these helmets are dated to the earlier half of the 4th Century.

We can also see on the Berkasovo I some immaculate hand-made relief work incorporating zoomorphic designs and geometric patterns, and an inscription over the left protective guard-plate in Greek; "ΔΙΖΖΩΝ ΥΓΙΕΝΩΝ ΦΟΡΙ ΑΥΕΙΤΟΥ ΕΡΓΟΝ ΓοΚ Α Γρ ΙΒ" or (roughly translated) "Dizzon, wear this in good health, from Avitus" implying the helmet was perhaps a gift for Dizzon or Dizzon was familiar with the manufacturer, a man named Avitus.

The Berkasovo II (our reconstruction worn by group member Tony Gilligan) also sports relief decorations, in an "S"-shaped pattern remeniscent of a chain, as well as silver rivet balls and an inscription in Latin; "VICIT [LIC] INIANA" on the guard-plate. This inscription dates the find to the army of the Emperor Licinius, the foe of Constantine I. In AD 308, Licinius became Augustus prior to a conflict between the two for control of the throne, and he eventually fell in AD 324, giving this helmet a wide date-range. Licinius served as prefect for Pannonia with his residence in Sirmium from 308–314 AD, making it possible this is the most likely period the helmet was deposited here.

Whilst considered high-status to a degree, certainly amongst the re-enactment community, the forever-disappointing lack of finds available (and high prevalence of gilding or tinning on helmet finds in this period) will eternally beg the question of whether these are still a relatively common item and even more lavish examples still elude us (and perhaps perpetually will - such is the nature of archaeology). Constantine I and Valentinian I are recorded as owning gem-encrusted gold helmets rather than simple glass, suggesting that whilst the basic construction of an even higher-status helmet may remain the same the materials and decorative techniques would be somehow even more luxurious.

An interesting note on the quality of materials used comes from another Berkasovo-style helmet found in Deurne in the Netherlands - as noted by Carol van Driel-Murray the Deurne helmet has the weight of silver recorded on the outside of the helmet, and contains a relatively small amount of gold in the gilding, perhaps suggesting the amount of precious metals used in each helmet issued was officially recorded and monitored according to the relevant status of the individual (or group of individuals) a helmet (or batch of helmets) was intended for.