Archaeologists have uncovered a remarkable collection of artifacts documenting the region's intense sieges and military history in the 16th and 17th centuries during excavations at the historic Visegrád Castle in Hungary. Perched atop a hill overlooking the Danube in Pest County, the 13th-century castle, once a royal residence, is currently undergoing a large-scale restoration project aimed at preserving its cultural heritage.

The latest discoveries were made during excavations of a full-scale grave dating back to the Angevin period. According to the Hungarian National Archaeological Institute, the finds include a diverse range of weapons such as small arms, cannons, arrowheads and melee weapons. Traces of fierce battles are evident judging by the extensive battle damage found on many of these objects.

       The 400-year-old helmet discovered at Visegrád castle. Credit: Hungary’s                                             National Archaeological Institute

One of the most notable finds is a fragmentary cabasset helmet, a conical infantry helmet widely used. Throughout Europe between 1550 and 1700. Decorated with copper rosettes and a copper pivot decorated with a feather on the back, this helmet is said to have belonged to a Habsburg mercenary who fought in the Fifteen Years' War (also known as the Long Turkish War). . This conflict, which took place between 1591 and 1606, saw the Habsburg Empire clash with the Ottoman Empire, resulting in widespread destruction throughout present-day Hungary. The University of Sieged emphasizes the considerable economic and social impact of the war on the region.

The fragmentary helmet has drawn comparisons with similar pieces in local museum collections. One parallel example displayed in the Solomon’s Tower exhibition shares the same feather swivel design, while another, simpler cabasset helmet from the palace weapons exhibition reflects a more common type of infantry equipment.

The Visegrád excavations are part of the Visegrád Renaissance development program, which aims to promote the city's rich cultural and architectural heritage. In addition to military artifacts, the program also highlighted Visegrád's medieval architectural innovations, including a 3D reconstruction of the sanctuary vault of the Franciscan church. This reconstruction links local designs with those of St. Stephen's Church in Vienna, demonstrating the influence of master builder Anton Pilgrim, a pioneer in the construction of curved vaults.