A PRECIOUS Roman artefact unearthed at Crosby Garrett seven years ago is to return to Cumbria.

The Crosby Garrett bronze helmet is named after the village near Kirkby Stephen where a treasure hunter with a metal detector found it in May 2010.

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Described as "one of the most significant finds" ever in Britain, the intricate headwear sold to a private buyer for £2.2 million at Christie's auction house, London.

Thwarted bidders included Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery in Carlisle, where the piece is to go on display as part of the Hadrian's Cavalry exhibition.

It will join other rare Roman cavalry objects on show at this major event, to be staged at ten venues across Hadrian's Wall, from Saturday, April 8 to Sunday, September 10.

Archaeologists have speculated the "beautiful and youthful face" of the Crosby Garrett helmet represents Paris, the youngest of the princes of Troy.

When it first went on display at Tullie House in 2013 it attracted more than 20,000 visitors.

For more, visit www.hadrianscavalry.co.uk

und in an Eden field by a treasure hunter with a metal detector

Crosby Garrett helmet returns to Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery for Hadrian’s Cavalry exhibition

One of the most significant archaeological finds in Britain is to return to Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery as part of the upcoming Hadrian’s Cavalry exhibition (www.hadrianscavalry.co.uk), which opens on Saturday 8 April 2017.

The Crosby Garrett helmet, named after the village near Kirkby Stephen where it was discovered in May 2010, will join other unique Roman cavalry objects in the wall-wide exhibition that stretches the full 150 miles of the Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site area – from Maryport in the west to South Shields in the east.

Andrew Mackay, Director of Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery said: "The opportunity to once again display the Crosby Garrett helmet is really special; it is truly a breath-taking reminder of our Roman heritage. It will provide the icing on the cake for visitors to experience a series of major exhibitions featuring nationally important artefacts that explain the compelling story of Hadrian's Cavalry."

Now it will be a major highlight of the five-month Hadrian’s Cavalry exhibition, which celebrates the cavalry regiments that once guarded the famous North West frontier of the mighty Roman Empire. The exhibition features other iconic Roman Cavalry helmets on loan from national and international museums including two Ribchester style helmets which will be displayed together for the very first time at the Great North Museum: Hancock, a complete Butzbach style helmet which will be displayed at Segedunum and a helmet from the Roman fort at Newstead in Scotland which will be displayed at Vindolanda.

“Never before have people had the opportunity to see this many iconic Roman cavalry objects.”

Hadrian’s Cavalry takes place at 10 museums and heritage attractions along Hadrian’s Wall from Saturday 8 April to Sunday 10 September 2017. In addition to the wall-wide exhibition, Bitts Park in Carlisle will host two days of Roman cavalry re-enactments on 1 and 2 July. 30 Roman cavalrymen - a turma or troop - will come together for the first time in almost 2,000 years at ‘Turma! Hadrian’s Cavalry Charge in Carlisle’.

The 10 museums and heritage attractions taking part in Hadrian’s Cavalry are:

• Arbeia Roman Fort and Museum (South Shields)

• Segedunum Roman Fort, Baths and Museum (Wallsend)

• Great North Museum: Hancock (Newcastle upon Tyne)

English Heritage venues:

• Corbridge Roman Town and Museum (Corbridge, Northumberland)

• Chesters Roman Fort and Museum (Chollerford, Northumberland)

• Housesteads Roman Fort and Museum (Haydon Bridge, Northumberland)

• Roman Vindolanda (Bardon Mill, near Hexham)

• Roman Army Museum (Greenhead, Northumberland)

• Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery (Carlisle, Cumbria)

• Senhouse Roman Museum (Maryport, Cumbria)

The Crosby Garrett Helmet would have originally been used as part of the Roman Cavalry turma events known as Hippika Gymnasia, or 'horse games'. The helmet shows a youth wearing a type of hat called a 'Phrygian cap'. In Roman art, this type of hat was used to identify the wearer as a Trojan. The beautiful and youthful face has suggested to archaeologists that the mask represents Paris, the youngest of the princes of Troy. It is the first and, at present, only example of a Trojan Roman cavalry helmet.

The Crosby Garrett Helmet will be shown alongside an example of a Greek-style and Amazon-style mask at Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery during Hadrian’s Cavalry.

For more information visit www.hadrianscavalry.co.uk

-ENDS-

For additional information, images and interview requests about the Crosby Garrett helmet or Hadrian’s Cavalry, please contact:

david.brookbanks@ngi.org.uk / 0191 440 5740

suzanne.manuel@tulliehouse.org / 01228 618 742

Image Caption: The Crosby Garrett helmet, late 1st-2nd century AD (bronze), Roman / Private Collection / Photo © Christie's Images / Bridgeman Images

Notes to editor

• Hadrian’s Cavalry is funded primarily through Arts Council England’s Museum Resilience Fund and inspired and managed by a partnership of heritage organisations from across Hadrian’s Wall. The partnership includes Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums, English Heritage, Vindolanda Trust, Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery Trust, Senhouse Museum Trust and Northumberland National Park Authority, which is the accountable body providing financial administration.

Turma! Hadrian’s Cavalry Charge in Carlisle is presented by Culture Creative and The Troop.