Historical eventDecember 231997

Pioneer Helmet

The Pioneer Helmet, one of only six Anglo-Saxon helmets to be discovered, was first placed on public display.

Everything on December 23Original source

In context

When
Tuesday, December 23 199729 years ago
Category
Historical eventA dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
Era
20th century · 1990s
Recorded from
Wikipedia “On this day” feed

At a glance

Dates: From 1997.

What happened

Description The basic construction of the richer Coppergate helmet is similar to that of the Pioneer Helmet. The helmet has the same basic form as the Anglo-Saxon Coppergate helmet , but is a utilitarian piece with little decoration, [ 1 ] [ 2 ] and is larger, perhaps to allow for additional padding. [ 3 ] It originally consisted of an iron skull cap, from which hung two cheek guards. [ 4 ] The form of neck protection that the helmet afforded, if any, is uncertain,

The Pioneer Helmet, is an Anglo-Saxon helmet from the late seventh century found in Wollaston, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom. The boar-crested helmet was discovered during a March 1997 excavation before the land was to be mined for gravel and was part of the grave of a young man. Other objects in the grave, such as a hanging bowl and a pattern welded sword, suggest that it was the burial mound of a high-status warrior.

December 23 through the years

Other entries on the same calendar day, in order.

  1. 1990History of Slovenia
  2. 1997Pioneer Helmet
  3. 2002General Atomics MQ-1 Predator
  4. 2003PetroChina
  5. 2005Antonov An-140
  6. 2007Kingdom of Nepal
  7. 20082008 Guinean coup d'état
  8. 2008Republic of Guinea Armed Forces
  9. 20152015 Sabiha Gökçen Airport bombing
  10. 20232023 Plateau State massacres
  11. 2025Harmony Jets Flight 185

Also in 1997

  • May 11Deep Blue (chess computer)Deep Blue defeated Garry Kasparov in six games to become the first chess computer to win a match against a world champion.
  • September 11NASANASA's Mars Global Surveyor reaches Mars.
  • September 11Kurkse tragedyKurkse tragedy: Fourteen Estonian soldiers of the Baltic Battalion are drowned or die of hypothermia during a training exercise in the Ku…
  • September 111997 Scottish devolution referendumAfter a nationwide referendum, Scotland votes to establish a devolved parliament within the United Kingdom.
  • September 13German Air ForceA German Air Force Tupolev Tu-154 and a United States Air Force Lockheed C-141 Starlifter collide in mid-air near Namibia, killing 33.
  • September 14Howrah–Ahmedabad Superfast ExpressEighty-one killed as five bogies of the Ahmedabad–Howrah Express plunge into a river in Bilaspur district of Madhya Pradesh, India.
  • September 18Ted TurnerUnited States media magnate Ted Turner donates US$1 billion to the United Nations.
  • September 18Ottawa TreatyThe Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention is adopted.

Everything we record for 1997 →

Sources

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“Pioneer Helmet”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/event/pioneer-helmet-1997-december-23, accessed October 28, 2026.

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Questions about this entry

When did Pioneer Helmet happen?

December 23 1997 — 29 years ago, on a Tuesday.

Where does this text come from?

Wikipedia “On this day” feed. Summaries are short adaptations that link back to the source, not reprints.

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