Help me! about H. Russell Robinson

[Caratacus]

Thanks,very thanks!!!

Robinson's helmet typology is still the only one that treats the entire group of helmet types (although it excludes the late types such as Intercissa & Spangenhelms). It uses a series of criteria, rather than direct comparisons (as does the European system). The main problems with the Robinson system are (a) he had comparatively few helmets to draw on, so some of his conclusions badly need updating, (b) too many of the typologies rely on subjective impressions; we continually get comparisons such as "the neck guard slopes more steeply", and so on.

The late-pattern helmet typology exists (see Vogt, "Spangenhelme", RGZM, K.39) and this uses a similar comparison process to Robinson.

One of the main problems with the Continental system is that direct comparisons are made, e.g. "Weisenau". However, if you have never seen a Weisenau helmet, saying that any particular helmet is of this type is pretty useless.

Mike Thomas
(Caratacus)