Between Warfare and Craftsmanship: In Situ XRF Analysis of Illyrian Helmets from Across Albania

The primary aim of this research is to examine the elemental composition of individual components of Illyrian helmets, which are important relics of the western Balkans Iron Age martial culture. The helmets exhibit a sophisticated level of technological understanding, individual workshop customs, as well as extensive period-of-use cross-cultural communication of the 8th to 7th centuries BC. The research is focused on a set of 27 complete Illyrian helmets, which were excavated in Albania and are now housed in museum collections, where their later typological variants are very well represented. The research, using portable in situ X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) analysis, aims to answer specific questions regarding the alloy constitution (major and

minor/trace elements) in order to assess the legitimacy of local metallurgical practices and the reason for the differentiation of these particular Illyrian helmets compared to others in the bordering areas. The results demonstrate that there was a distinctive and consistent use of bronze alloys which include copper (89–95%) with low and medium ranges of tin (3.5–9.9%). This composition supports the previously established alloying theories on the creation of copper bronze tools and weapons and is indicative of a refined knowledge of ancient material science and engineering. The method is advanced non-destructive analysis applicable to precious archaeological artifacts, which serves to broaden the horizons of our knowledge of ancient metallurgy and

the cultural interconnections of the time.

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