The workmanship of the figurine, with its naturalistic stance and proportions, indicates that the sculptor was either a Roman or had been trained in the Graeco-Roman tradition. Native figurines tend to be exaggerated physically and more crudely rendered by comparison. The figurine perpetuates the image of the native British warrior as fighting naked, relying on the tribal gods for protection. The helmet worn by the warrior appears to be a variant of the Montefortino Type A, which had been adopted by the Roman Republican army by the 2nd century BC, and remained in use for several centuries. The helmet’s origins are disputed, but most observers place it among the Gauls or Etruscans.
To discover more about Celtic culture, please visit our relevant blog post: Bronze Age Britain.
