Radiocarbon dating and characterisation of textiles preserved in late medieval helmets from Benicarló (Castellón, Spain)

[EN] While absolute dating has become the archaeological gold standard, typology can provide context beyond time frames. Here, the authors demonstrate this with the chronological assessment of iron helmets from the underwater site of Piedras de la Barbada, near Benicarl & oacute; (eastern Sp...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Frallicciardi, Manuel, Alvarez-Romero, Carla, Graells I Fabregat, Raimon, Santoro, Alfredo Maria, Domenech Carbo, Mª Teresa|||0000-0003-3660-2161
Format: article
Publication Date:2026
Country:España
Institution:Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV)
Repository:RiuNet. Repositorio Institucional de la Universitat Politécnica de Valéncia
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:dnet:riunet______::4975c8af7d7903fbde15c1b09eedce9f
Online Access:https://riunet.upv.es/handle/10251/235778
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Iberia
Medieval
Radiocarbon dating
Archaeometric analysis
Underwater archaeology
Iron helmets
Textiles
Description
Summary:[EN] While absolute dating has become the archaeological gold standard, typology can provide context beyond time frames. Here, the authors demonstrate this with the chronological assessment of iron helmets from the underwater site of Piedras de la Barbada, near Benicarl & oacute; (eastern Spain). Marine concretions helped preserve fabric linings in several helmets, permitting direct radiocarbon dating of the assemblage to the late fourteenth or early fifteenth centuries AD. Typological and iconographic comparisons agree, identifying the helmets as regionally produced, light-infantry equipment that pre-dates the fifteenth-century standardisation of European plate armour systems, corresponding with a period of maritime insecurity along the Valencian coast.