Extremely Rare Roman Military Hat Displayed After Century of Preservation

A remarkably rare Roman military hat, dating back 2,000 years, has finally been put on display after spending more than 100 years in storage, according to Ancient Origins. The hat is just one of three such existing hats, with this one being the most well-preserved of the trio.

The hat was first donated to Manchester's Bolton Museum, where it’s now on display, by Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie in 1911. Petrie was a cutting-edge archaeologist who specialized in Egyptology. Veteran textile expert Jacqui Hyman undertook the conservation process, which involved reinforcing areas eaten away by moths. Pests and other environmental factors caused some of the hat’s original material to break down over time, so it was necessary to recreate the hat’s original shapes using hand-dyed fabric.

Researchers dated the hat to approximately 200 A.D., determining that it was specially crafted to endure the harsh Egyptian heat and sandstorms. They say this is a prime example of the Romans’ sophisticated craftsmanship, which was often amended to fit the climate. Due to the extreme rarity of such military clothing items, researchers have yet to gain a full context of the period’s design techniques.

Experts say this new exhibit presents one of the most comprehensive views yet of ancient Roman military forces and their daily operations. Hyman noted that turning the hat from "a flat, fragile, boxed item" into a three-dimensional object which "had come to life" shows the power of the conservation process to transport people back in time and make them feel a part of history.

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