[7] These ridges may have been decorative, but they may also have been intended to serve as "stop-ribs", preventing edged weapons such as swords from glancing downwards and striking the wearer on the shoulders or face.

[10] The use of copper alloy rivets, instead of the iron ones used on the rest of the helmet, may reflect a decorative effect reserved for a non-structural element.

[10] Leather linings have also been suggested for some Late Roman and Anglo-Saxon helmets, which could also explain some of the traces in the Shorwell example.

[22] Its only decorative elements are paired with serviceable uses—the flared ends and raised edges of the nose-to-nape and lateral bands are aesthetically pleasing while strengthening the helmet with large overlaps[22] and providing protection from glancing blows, while the three copper alloy rivets were used in association with a strap or cheek flap[9]—suggesting a "fighting helmet" above all.

[22] It is simple yet well made and effective, and strong;[22] one of the fragments that has survived best is from the crown of the helmet, where seven pieces of metal overlap in what was intended to be the strongest place.

[27] Yet thousands of furnished Anglo-Saxon graves have been excavated since the start of the 19th century and helmets remain rare;[16][17][28] although this could partly reflect poor rates of artefact survival or even recognition, their extreme scarcity indicates that they were never deposited in great numbers.

[29] The Isle of Wight Metal Detecting Club had discovered Anglo-Saxon grave goods that May,[30] and reported the finds as required by law.

The Isle of Wight Archaeology and Historic Environment Service excavated the grave and found evidence of a high-status male warrior from the early- to mid-sixth century.

[1] Also found were a shield boss with extended grip,[33] the socket of a broken spearhead, a fluted glass vessel, two pieces of flint, and hanging bowl fragments with bird-shaped mounts.

[40] The pieces were only lightly cleaned to preserve traces of organic remains, and X-rays were first used to sort the fragments by density and curvature.

[1] In this period, burials were often accompanied by items including joints of meat, pottery and metal vessels, and in certain cases weaponry.

[46] The choice of items placed in a grave could convey information about the status, wealth, sex, age, and tribal affiliation of the deceased.

[49] The Isle of Wight is located on the northern side of the English Channel, approximately 3 km (1.9 mi) off the coast of Great Britain.

To the southwest of the island is Shorwell,[29] a small village that has seen evidence of human activity since the Paleolithic, including settlement during the Roman occupation of Britain.

[55] At some time, according to an assertion made by Bede and backed up by similarities in the grave goods, the Kentish population seems to have also formed a settlement on the Isle of Wight and another across the Solent, near Southampton Water.

[58][59] What is known is that Kent at the time was the technological hub of Britain and the bridgehead through which trade from the continent flowed, and that its sixth-century connection with the Isle of Wight supplied the latter with goods and visitors from across the Channel.