The same team that found the Illyrian helmet in 2020, in the same place in Zakotorc of Pelesac in Dalmatia, Croatia, has found the next helmet, which according to the first analyzes is older than the one found earlier. It is a little different, it is distinguished from the pages that make us conclude that the one that has been found now dates from the 5th – 6th century BC, which means that it is older than the first one, but we need to research the details even more” , archeologist Marta Kalebota said(Slobodna Dalmacija).

Four years after the fascinating discovery of the over 2,000 thousand-year-old Illyrian helmet in Zakotorc of Pelesac in the heart of Dalmatia in Croatia, archaeologists have found another one of this type and an even older one. The news about the sensational discovery was given on Wednesday morning by Marta Kalebota, archaeologist of the Korcula City Museum and member of the team of archaeologists excavating in Zakotorc. The same team found the Illyrian helmet in 2020. Even though it is known in advance that the helmet discovered now is even older, the details will be confirmed after the analysis of the remains.

“Hrvoje lifted the stone and started shouting that he has found a helmet too! It’s an understatement to say it’s a phenomenal feeling. I am very excited, amazing find and for the second time. This helmet was found ten meters as the crow flies from the location where the first one was found. It is a little different, it is distinguished from the pages that make us conclude that what has been found now dates from the 5th – 6th century BC, which means that it is older than the first one, but we need to research the details even more”, archeologist Kalebota is quoted as saying.

Besides her, the team consists of dr.sc. prof. Hrvoje Potrebic from the Department of Archeology at the Faculty of Philosophy in Zagreb, who found the helmet, as well as Domagoj Perkiq from the Dubrovnik Museums who lead the team and financed the excavations.

Kalebota has revealed that the helmet was found in a semicircular annex, surrounded by stones in a large pile, while the first one was found in the area near the grave with many other artifacts such as buttons, beads, ceramic vessels, amber and others.

Archaeologists are still guessing whether it was a helmet that was a dedication gift to a fallen warrior or whether it was valuable for the whole crowd, i.e. whether it served other burials. It is in very good condition, slightly bent at the top.

Details about it will be released soon. The proven reason why such valuable helmets are found in Zakotorc is, of course, the Peleshac Canal. For thousands of years, the 12-kilometer long sea channel that separates the island of Korcula and the peninsula of Pelesac was and remains the safest and shortest trade and passenger route to Dubrovnik.

The Peleshac Channel is also the reason for many other archaeological sites on the island and peninsula, and the people who lived there were usually rich, both due to piracy and trade, as evidenced by the artifacts found, most of them expensive objects. Archaeologists have come to the conclusion that the first helmet most likely belonged to the Illyrian Plereians (or Pyreans), and more will be known about the second after the analysis.