The Boston helmet : a preliminary account of a Parthian/Roman-era artefact at the Museum of Fine Arts

The helmet, or more accurately helmet bowl or skull (parallels indicate that it is only half of a head defence) has long been on public display in room 110 of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, where first I saw it during a visit in February 2011. Although the piece has previously appeared in print, this was a very brief account and photograph in a little known volume. Because it is of considerable academic importance yet has hitherto escaped the attention of wider scholarship, I requested permission from the MFA to study and publish the helmet more fully. Further scientific examination is currently continuing, and so the following is a preliminary note on this important artefact, in anticipation of a fuller future publication.