Researchers from the University of Alicante have overturned the long-held belief that a collection of 43 helmets found off the Spanish coast were Roman artifacts. Instead, these helmets date back to the late 14th and early 15th centuries, providing crucial insights into a medieval weapons trade network. The helmets, discovered in 1990 at the underwater site of Piedras de la Barbada, represent the largest known hoard of medieval helmets in the western Mediterranean. The study highlights the active movement of military equipment between the Valencia Region and northern Italy, particularly Genoa, during a period marked by piracy and warfare. Utilizing a new analytical method alongside radiocarbon dating, researchers determined the helmets' age and uncovered their unique design, which had no known parallels. This shipment likely sank during a tumultuous time in Mediterranean history, underscoring the demand for military supplies and the complexities of trade across the region.