Collections Online

The support was fixed to the helmet by means of a tongue at the base which slotted into a single-tube support-holder riveted to the centre of the helmet. The tongue of the Usk crest support is single with no eivdence that it split towards its outer edge. In addition to this tongue at the base two further arms, only one of which is extant, extended out sideways following the curve of the helmet. In this respect the Usk crest-support may be compared with one from Richborough which has two similar arms at the base in addition, in that case, to a double tongue. A further example with basal arms and tongue is known from Neuss.

At its upper end the Usk crest-support was equipped with two bent arms, terminating in curling ends, and a central spike for insertion in the base of the crest-box. Robinson in discussing such central spikes on two twist on helmet crest supports from Rheingonheim suggests that the additional security afforded to the crest box by means of such a spike might obviate the need for the additional fastenings, hooks or rings riveted to the front and back of the helmet skull, which were normally required. A sculptural representation on a sarcophagus of how the crest support, crest box and crest itself were attached to the helmets is discussed by Robinson.

In addition to the Rheingonheim examples discussed by Robinson and the Usk item, spiked crest supports are also known from Neuss. One example is of the slide-in rather than the twist-on type and has additional basal arms as have the Usk, Richborough and Neuss examples cited above. Each of the spiked crest supports from Neuss has elaborately decorated upper arms. Four further examples of helmet crest supports with central spikes are known from Vindonissa. One is fragmentary, the remaining three are of slide-in type with basal arms.