"Pressbleck" fragments from the East mound in Old Uppsala analyzed with laser scanner

Abstract

Eighteen "Pressbleck" found in the east Mound at Old Uppsala are analyzed with drawings compared to measured contourmaps and profile maps. The latter which appeared to be very useful were made with a lazer scanner instrument constructed and described by Henry Freij. The indentification of the small fragment made it possible to show that of 9 antropomorfic motifs known from the so called Vendel helmets seven were used on this helmet. Opposite from what is known from other helmets no dublicates of the antrophomorfic motifs were found,whereas the interlace motif was found in several cases. The interlace ornaments are very close to these ornaments on Vendel XIV and most probably have adorned the helmet cap in the same way. However the total lack of the iron parts of the helmet in Old Uppsala makes it probable that this helmet was made of leather, the only more heavy metal details being an animal head used as mount to nocepiece. As the size of the antropomorfic pressbleckpanels are smaller than on the other helmets, and has only been set in one row, (because of the lack of duplicates), the helmet size must have been fairly small. This may indicate that the helmet was intended for an infant prince like the leather helmet in the Cologne Cathedral grave. The old discussion of the missing male skeleton in the east mound at Old Uppsala must therefore be taken under new consideration.