Roman sun hat: ‘extremely rare’ 1,600-year-old brimmed hat that may have protected Roman soldiers from Egyptian sandstorms

This sun hat was made from felted wool in various colors in Egypt during the early Christian or Coptic period. This is one of only three hats best preserved through time. The sun hat was donated to the Chadwick Museum (later known as Bolton Museum) in Bolton, England, by British Egyptologist Sir Flinders Petrie, who discovered the hat in 1911.

Petrie discovered the hat, along with a number of other garments featuring exquisite Coptic textile work, at the ruins of Lafun (also known as Ilahn), a town and pyramid complex in Egypt’s Fayum region.

According to Bolton Museum, where the artifact is housed, the conical hat was sewn together from all sides and had a tab in the center. Approximately 15.5 inches (39.5 centimeters) in diameter, the hat is mostly made of brown felt with a wide brim of red felt. Green woolen fabric was used to tie the brim, finished with blue woolen fabric, and the lining of the hat was covered with white felt. The seams of the hat are finished with a slip stitch with a decorative chain stitch on the outer edge.

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Experts believe the hat may have been made for a member of an occupying Roman army, as it resembles a Roman hat from before the 3rd century, Bolton City Council said in a statement. However, it may have been adapted from a Roman design to better protect the wearer from the harsh Egyptian sun and sandstorms.

The Coptic period in Egypt began around 395 AD, with the fall of the Roman Empire. Emperor Constantine had already promoted Christianity throughout his empire, and in the mid-4th century, the Egyptian-influenced Coptic language emerged among Christians in Roman Egypt. Coptic textiles found in early Christian burial sites in the Fayum region are characterized by a mix of colorful threads, intricate woven patterns, and iconography, including Egyptian ankhs, Roman gods, and Christian saints.

In August 2025, Bolton Museum put the sun hat on display for the first time since its conservation. Textile expert Jackie Hyman, who worked on the “extraordinary felt hat”, said in a statement that although the felt wool was damaged by moths, the hand-dyed fabric stabilized the hat and recreated the hat’s original shape.

“This hat was made to be worn, but I wish it could have a conversation and tell me who made it and who wore it,” Hyman said.

For more amazing archaeological discoveries, check out our Astonishing Artifacts archive.