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Old 12th January 2017, 06:57 PM   #3
fernando
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Location: Portugal
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Thank you for your comments, Neil.
In lack of further information, i would say that the existence of these prominent spikes also belong in the same culture that applied their typical decoration on these helmets, similar to that applied in their ceramics.
'Castrense' culture, is that practiced in 'Castros', a term brought from the Latin 'Castrum', which were pre-Roman fortifications or camps; what you would call chesters in English.
These fortified settlements, developed in the 4th century BC, were situated in the Northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, between the rivers Douro in Portugal and the Navia in the Spanish Asturias, hence an area further North from that 'inhabited' by the Lusitanians.
As an interesting note, the orifices in the spike and on the brim would be for applying a chain hanging between both; sometimes the spike having, not a simple hole, but a ring. The examples in the posted pictures were found in a site belonging to the village of Castelo do Neiva. A similar one was found further south, in a castro situated in Povoa de Lanhoso, where the spike has the said ring and a 52 link chain.
Attached a picture of the ruins and a simulation of the Castro situated in the site of Terroso, in my Hometown.

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