Archaic Roman military sun hat, potentially belonging to a soldier, publicly revealed for the first time.
Ancient Roman Sun Hat Unveiled at Bolton Museum
In a significant discovery for archaeology enthusiasts, an ancient Roman sun hat has been unveiled at the Bolton Museum in Greater Manchester, England. The sun hat, believed to be worn by a soldier in Egypt, is one of only three examples known worldwide, with others in Florence and Manchester.
The sun hat was found at the Illahun archaeological site in the Egyptian city of Faiyum in 1888. After being in storage for nearly 115 years, the hat has been cleaned and strengthened with a sympathetic support lining, allowing it to be displayed for the first time.
Dr. Paul Bidwell, an archaeologist, explained the unusual preservation of the sun hat. Through detailed analysis of the hat's material and the burial environment, Dr. Bidwell deduced that Egypt's dry conditions, despite the wetter climate of the Faiyum city where it was found, played a crucial role in the hat's survival.
The sun hat dates back to between 2,400 and 2,100 years ago, during the Greek and Roman rule of Egypt. The conical body of the hat may have been made earlier than the scalloped brim, which seems to have been added on in a different type of stitch. The exterior of the hat is made of cream-colored wool, while the interior is dyed red wool. The scalloped brim of the hat is of a less dense felt.
Ian Trumble, a curator of archaeology for Bolton Library & Museum Services, attributed the hat's survival to Egypt's dry conditions. The hat joins more than 8,000 other individual pieces in the museum, making the Bolton Museum's collection the largest in the United Kingdom for ancient Egyptian textiles.
The current theory suggests that the hat was worn by a soldier who adapted it for Egyptian conditions when the Roman army moved from Anatolia to Egypt. Further research into the hat's history is planned for the future.
As of now, the sun hat sits in the entrance case to the museum's Egypt galleries. It will be moved to a permanent display in September. The sun hat's unveiling is a testament to the rich history and archaeological significance that the Bolton Museum continues to uphold.
Meanwhile, another historical find was made recently by a 12-year-old girl named Dafna Filshteiner. During a family trip in Hod Hasharon, Israel, Dafna discovered an ancient amulet dating back approximately 3,500 years. The discovery highlights the continued fascination and importance of archaeological finds in understanding our past.
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