Gjermundbu helmet
On the 29th of March 1943, Gunnar Gjermundbo dug into an embankment at his farm near Haugsbygd. He planned to level the ground for a new orchard and home for his parents. Artifacts began appearing as he worked just west of a large round burial mound. The local historian Jon Guldal called the University of Oslo collection the next day. Ringerikes Blad published the news on the 31st of March alongside an interview with Lars, Gjermundbo's father.
Sverre Marstrander and Charlotte Blindheim arrived from the university to examine the site. They performed additional excavations without finding more artifacts immediately. Marstrander determined it was an exceptionally rich man's grave from the Viking Age. He took the artifacts back to Oslo for study. In May 1943, Gjermundbo discovered another grave within the same mound. This second find became known as Gjermundbu II while the first remained Gjermundbu I.
Conservators pieced together nine iron fragments found in the earth. The resulting helmet has a round shape made from four distinct plates. It stands today as one of only two fully reconstructable Viking helmets known to exist. The other reconstructable example is the Tjele helmet fragment. The restored object now sits on display at the Museum of Cultural History in Oslo.
Gjermundbu I contained fragments of chain mail alongside a ceremonial sword of Jan Petersen's type S. Two spears and two axes lay buried with the warrior. Four shield bosses and two spurs were also recovered from the ground. Five or six bits completed the inventory of items found beneath the elongated mound. No other finds in Scandinavia or Western Europe contain both a helmet and chain mail from this period.
Helge Braathen dates the Gjermundbu grave to the latter half of the 10th century. Frans-Arne H. Stylegar suggests the man's grave connects to Viking ties with Kievan Rus'. The site dimensions adjusted over time to roughly long and up to wide. A stone perimeter known as a foot chain surrounds the last unexcavated mound. This feature remains relatively common for burial mounds from the early Iron Age.
The Gjermundbu find stands alone among Viking Age grave discoveries in its region. It includes one of only five known Viking helmets ever identified by archaeologists. Only two of these five examples can be fully reconstructed today. The Yarm helmet and Lokrume helmet fragment remain incomplete pieces. A fragment from Kyiv represents another partial example of these rare artifacts.
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Common questions
When was the Gjermundbu helmet discovered?
Gunnar Gjermundbo discovered the Gjermundbu helmet on the 29th of March 1943 while digging an embankment at his farm near Haugsbygd. The University of Oslo collection received notification from local historian Jon Guldal on that same day.
Where is the Gjermundbu helmet currently displayed?
The restored Gjermundbu helmet sits on display at the Museum of Cultural History in Oslo. It remains one of only two fully reconstructable Viking helmets known to exist alongside the Tjele helmet fragment.
What items were found with the Gjermundbu helmet?
Gjermundbu I contained fragments of chain mail alongside a ceremonial sword of Jan Petersen's type S, two spears, and two axes. Four shield bosses, two spurs, and five or six bits also completed the inventory of items found beneath the elongated mound.
How old is the Gjermundbu grave?
Helge Braathen dates the Gjermundbu grave to the latter half of the 10th century. Frans-Arne H. Stylegar suggests the man's grave connects to Viking ties with Kievan Rus.
Why is the Gjermundbu helmet unique among Viking artifacts?
No other finds in Scandinavia or Western Europe contain both a helmet and chain mail from this period. The site includes one of only five known Viking helmets ever identified by archaeologists.