Archaeologists in southern Croatia have uncovered a significant find—an ancient Greek helmet—offering insights into the Illyrians, a tribal people from the eastern Adriatic and the Balkans.

Led by Hrvoje Potrebica from the University of Zagreb, the team discovered the helmet along with other artifacts near the village of Zakotorac on the Peljesac peninsula.

Dating back to the 5th or 6th century BC, the helmet suggests the flourishing of local Illyrian communities during this period.

While little is known about Illyrian culture, their control over strategic maritime trade routes around the peninsula likely contributed to their prosperity, Euro News reported.

Interestingly, the helmets, although discovered in burial mounds, were not part of burial rituals but were possibly votive gifts deposited later in a religious or ceremonial context.

According to archaeologist Hrvoje Potrebica, the separate placement of these helmets indicates a cult practice, possibly paying respect to deities or individuals buried at the site.

The discovery underscores the spiritual significance of sites like Zakotorac and nearby Nakovana to 5th-century Illyrians in the region.

Written by B.C. Begley