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Sidestep: The Spanish Helmet
Some time prior to 1904, an iron helmet was dredged from the Wellington Harbour. The helmet is now housed at the Te Papa Museum in Wellington. Facts surrounding the helmet vary depending on the source. A summary of referenced facts and claims follows.
Helmet dated to 1580
Found in Wellington Harbour prior to 1904 – actual date unknown
Cited as evidence for pre-Tasman European contact
It is a Close Helmet Possibly made in England or Northern Italy
Not like typical Spanish helmets of the 1400's
In style of German Burgonet helmet but could be French, Italian or English
State suggests in water for short time, but could have been imbedded in mud preserving it
Critics say:
No signs of marine encrustation, but could have been cleaned
So little known that cannot be used as evidence or pre-Tasman contact
May have been ships ballast
May have been a souvenir, gift or trade item
In 1983, Dr. Robin J Watt, the director of the Museum of New Zealand, wrote an article about the helmet. That article was published in the National Museum of New Zealand records on 19 August 1983. In his article, Robin Watt quotes but ignores the advise of scientist S. Soylemezoglu from the DSIR: "…it is feasible that the helmet could have lain in the harbour… in still, stagnant water or covered in mud….. for an unknown period of time……The type of pitting, wide flat, large and uneven, is typical of oxygen attack under seawater."
Having reviewed ancient helmets, it does seem closer to a German or English helmet design common in the 1400’s. However, it also resembles many French designs of the period as well.
Going clockwise (click for a larger view) 1. the hole around the forehead lip. 2. the temple hole. 3. showing the head spine protrusion and the missing front neck flap. 4,5,6 Complete helmet. Note the layers around the neck of No.6.
My theory is it is French and arrived here via du Fresne where 25 of his men were attacked by Maori in the Bay of Islands. This tribe, Ngare Raumati has over 200 killed in retaliation but it is possible the helmet was taken or gift. Maori, as other native tribes, loved to take stuff where opportunity existed. In fairness, European sailors also stole items from Maori. Ngare Raumati were eventually over-run by NgaPuhi so it possible this was kept as a trophy by a Ngapuhi warrior who lost it in Wellington on one of their many war excursions further south. Ok, it's a wild theory, but so is everyone elses!
French or Spanish items have been found on Stradbroke Island in Australia. So if they reached Australia, they could reach here. Once again, the fact we do not know of a French or Spanish ship arriving in NZ that early does not disprove it. As mentioned in another post - if a ship did make successful contact here and then sank in the ocean on the return journey, we would have no proof therefore..."absence of proof is not proof of absence".
All we know is there is a helmet, it is probably German/French or English and it is dated at 1580 which in no way proves the helmet arrived in 1600 but is more than likely. But to say it did for certain is plain arrogance. So just how and when will remain a mystery unless other items are found.
