Viking Age Compendium articles on Knives and Axes: Viking Age Compendium articles on Knives and Axes:
Introduction
Wheeler Type I
Petersen Type A
A small woodland axe that altered little from pre-Roman times on-wards.
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England, York: Coppergate A
- Current Location- Yorkshire Museum
- Find Type- ?
- Find Date- ?
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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England, York: Coppergate B
- Current Location- Yorkshire Museum
- Find Type- ?
- Find Date- ?
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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England, London: River Thames, Old London Bridge
- Current Location- ?
- Find Type- ?
- Find Date- ?
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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England, London: River Thames, Putney
- Current Location- ?
- Find Type- ?
- Find Date- ?
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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England, London: River Thames, Walthamstow (I)
- Current Location- ?
- Find Type- ?
- Find Date- ?
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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Wheeler Type II
No Petersen Type
This type was more likely to be a tool than a weapon. Earlier types are not so slender [Wheeler 1927]
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England, York: Parliament Street
- Current Location- Yorkshire Museum
- Find Type- ?
- Find Date- ?
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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England, London: River Thames, Brentwood
- Current Location- ?
- Find Type- ? C9th
- Find Date- ?
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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England, London: River Thames (II-1)
- Current Location- ?
- Find Type- ? C9th
- Find Date- ?
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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England, London: River Thames (II-2)
- Current Location- ?
- Find Type- ? C9th
- Find Date- ?
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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England, London: River Thames, Walthamstow (II)
- Current Location- ?
- Find Type- ? C9th
- Find Date- ?
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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England, London: Milk Street
- Current Location- Museum of London
- Find Type-
- Find Date- ?
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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Wheeler Type III
Petersen Types B & C
No Petersen Type C axes have been found in the British Isles.
Bearded axes are derived from fransica’s.
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Scotland, Argyll and Bute, Islay: Ballinaby (III-1)
- Current Location- ?
- Find Type- Grave find. Grave 2(i)
- Find Date- 1877
- Blade- L:14.5cm, W:5cm
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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Scotland, Argyll and Bute, Islay: Ballinaby (III-2)
- Current Location- ?
- Find Type- Grave find. Grave 2(i)
- Find Date- 1877
- Blade- L:14cm, W:9cm
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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Scotland, Westray: Pierowall (1851-Donations)
- Current Location- ?
- Find Type- ? Type B
- Find Date- ?
- Blade- L:14cm, W:10cm
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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Scotland, Orkney, Isle of Islay:
- Current Location- ?
- Find Type- ?
- Find Date- ?
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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England, Suffolk: Ipswich
- Current Location- British Museum (possibly 1867,0711.9 or 1867,0711.10)
- Find Type- ? C9th
- Find Date- Acquired 1867
- Blade- ornamented with cross-lines between blade and socket
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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England, Suffolk: Ipswich
- Current Location- British Museum (possibly 1867,0711.9 or 1867,0711.10)
- Find Type- ?
- Find Date- Acquired 1867
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments- vertical grooves on socket
- Bibliography-
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England, London: River Thames at Whitehall
- Current Location- British Museum 1856,0701.1422
- Find Type- ?
- Find Date- Acquired 1856
- Blade- Petersen Type: E; W:13.5cm
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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England, London: Strand on the Green
- Current Location- Museum of London
- Find Type- ?
- Find Date- ?
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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England, London:
- Current Location- British Museum 1856,0701.1421
- Find Type- ?
- Find Date- Acquired 1856
- Blade- W:12.3cm
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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Thames nr London ?
Reading ?
Hastings Downs ?
Wheeler Type IV
- Current Location- National Museums Scotland X.IL 167
- Find Type- Grave find.
- Find Date-
- Blade- Type G/H/I?
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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Isle of Man, Knoc-y-doonee
- Current Location- Manx Museum
- Find Type- Grave find
- Find Date- ?
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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Isle of Man, Ballaterson
- Current Location- Manx Museum
- Find Type- Boat Burial
- Find Date- ?
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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- Current Location- Lost
- Find Type- ?
- Find Date- Before 1790
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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England, Cumbria: Carlisle, Denton Holme
- Current Location- Carlisle Tullie House Museum
- Find Type-
- Find Date-
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments- found in Richards Street, Denton Holme
- Bibliography-
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- Current Location- Lost
- Find Type- Grave Find
- Find Date-
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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England, York
- Current Location- Yorkshire Museum 551.45.48
- Find Type- ?
- Find Date- ?
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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England, York: Jubbergate
- Current Location- ?
- Find Type- ?
- Find Date- ?
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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England,Yorkshire: Bawtry
- Current Location- The Great North Museum NEWMA : 1904.20
- Find Type-
- Find Date- ?
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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England, Derbyshire: Repton (H)
- Current Location-
- Find Type- Mass Grave
- Find Date- 1980-86
- Blade- Type H
- Haft-
- Comments- Found along with the remains of at least 264 people below the mound in the Vicarage Garden (Biddle & Kjolbye-Biddle 2001)
- Bibliography-
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England, Lincolnshire: Lincoln, Danes Terrace
- Current Location- Lincoln The Collection
- Find Type- Petersen G?
- Find Date- ?
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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England, Oxfordshire: Oxford
- Current Location- Pitt Rivers Museum
- Find Type- Petersen G
- Find Date- ?
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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Museum of London
England, London: Thames Street
- Current Location- ?
- Find Type- ?
- Find Date- ?
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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England, London: Aldergate
- Current Location- ?
- Find Type- ?
- Find Date- ?
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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England, London: nr Tower of London
- Current Location- ?
- Find Type- ?
- Find Date- ?
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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England, London: Austin Friars
- Current Location- Museum of London (from Guildhall collection)
- Find Type- ?
- Find Date- ?
- Blade- Petersen Type L; W: 8.2cm (3¼"); L: 14.9cm (5 7/8")
- Haft- None
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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Wheeler Type V
Petersen Type D, E & F
Transitional between types III and IV
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Scotland, Shetland: St. Olaf's, White ness
- Current Location- Shetland Museum ARC 65381
- Find Type-
- Find Date- 1938
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments- Image found at [[1]]
- Bibliography-
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Scotland, Argyll and Bute, Islay: Ballinaby (1932)
- Current Location- National Museum of Scotland
- Find Type- Grave find
- Find Date- 1932
- Blade- L:8", W:5½" (Edwards 1934) Type E ?
- Haft-
- Comments- described as being similar to the axe from Reay in Cathness.
- Bibliography-
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Scotland, Skye, Sheabost, Tote
- Current Location- ?
- Find Type- F
- Find Date- ?
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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Scotland, Colonsay: Kiloran Bay
- Current Location- ?
- Find Type- ?
- Find Date- ?
- Blade- L:20.5cm, W:13.5cm
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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- Current Location- National Museum of Scotland
- Find Type-
- Find Date- 1926
- Blade- Petersen type E
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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- Current Location- Lost - Stolen
- Find Type- Grave Find
- Find Date- 1867
- Blade- Petersen Type E
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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- Current Location-
- Find Type-
- Find Date- 1901
- Blade- Petersen Type E
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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England, Derbyshire: Repton
- Current Location- ?
- Find Type- ?
- Find Date- ?
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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England, London: Kew Bridge
- Current Location- ?
- Find Type- ?
- Find Date- ?
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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Wheeler Type VI
Petersen Type M
The ‘Dane Axe’ appears in Britain from 1000AD onwards.
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Scotland: Loch of Doon
- Current Location- ?
- Find Type- ?
- Find Date- ?
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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Scotland, Dumfriesshire:
- Current Location- ?
- Find Type- ?
- Find Date- ?
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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Scotland, Sutherland, Dunrobin: Golspie
- Current Location- ?
- Find Type- Grave Find
- Find Date- ?
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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England, Lincolnshire, River Witham
- Current Location- Lincoln The Collection 1906.0661.2
- Find Type- ?
- Find Date- ?
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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England, Oxfordshire, River Thames at Stanton Harcourt
- Current Location- British Museum 1891,0905.8
- Find Type-
- Find Date- Acquired 1891
- Blade- R560; H:17.5cm; W:18cm; D:3cm Wgt: 287g
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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England, Norfolk: River Yare, Surlingham Ferry
- Current Location- Norwich Castle Museum 158.946
- Find Type- River find
- Find Date- ?
- Blade- W:22cm
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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England, Cambridgeshire: March, Rectory Paddock
- Current Location- Wisbech Museum
- Find Type-
- Find Date- c.1890
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments- The flared sides were removed by the finder, presumably to permit re-use.
- Bibliography-
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England, Cambridgeshire, Ely
England, Cambridgeshire, Ely
England, Essex: River Lea, Stratford
- Current Location- Pitt Rivers Museum 1954.11.11
- Find Type- River Find?
- Find Date- before 1898?
- Blade- L:215mm, W:252mm. Like R560 (Bjorn & Shetelig 1940)
- Haft-
- Comments- Was previously at Newbury Museum: 1898-5
- Bibliography-
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England, London: River Thames at Hammersmith
- Current Location- British Museum 1909,0626.8
- Find Type- ?
- Find Date- Acquired 1909
- Blade- Petersen Type: M; L:21.5cm; W:20.7cm; D:3.3cm; Wgt: 693g
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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England, London, River Thames at Tower of London
- Current Location- Museum of London
- Find Type- ?
- Find Date- ?
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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England, London, River Thames at Chelsea, Barnes
- Current Location- Museum of London
- Find Type- ?
- Find Date- ?
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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England, London: River Thames at Chelsea, Barnes
- Current Location- Museum of London
- Find Type- ?
- Find Date- ?
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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England, London, River Thames at Battersea
- Current Location- Museum of London
- Find Type- ?
- Find Date- ?
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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Group: England, London: River Thames at Old London Bridge
A group of 7 Dane Axes (see below), a small axe, 6 spears, a pair of fire tongs and a grappling hook were found by workmen excavating in the former foreshore of the river.
England, London: River Thames at Old London Bridge 1
- Current Location- Museum of London
- Find Type- River Find
- Find Date- ?
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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England, London: River Thames at Old London Bridge 2
- Current Location- Museum of London
- Find Type- River Find
- Find Date- ?
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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England, London: River Thames at Old London Bridge 3
- Current Location- Museum of London
- Find Type- River Find
- Find Date- ?
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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England, London: River Thames at Old London Bridge 4
- Current Location- Museum of London
- Find Type- River Find
- Find Date- ?
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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England, London: River Thames at Old London Bridge 5
- Current Location- Museum of London
- Find Type- River Find
- Find Date- ?
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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England, London: River Thames at Old London Bridge 6
- Current Location- Museum of London
- Find Type- River Find
- Find Date- ?
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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England, London: River Thames at Old London Bridge 7
- Current Location- Museum of London
- Find Type- River Find
- Find Date- ?
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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Axes still awaiting classification
Axes so far unidentified by the authors
Scotland, Westray: Pierowall (1849-Grave 6)
- Current Location- LOST?
- Find Type- ?
- Find Date- ?
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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Scotland, Argyll and Bute, Colonsay: Machrins
- Current Location-
- Find Type-
- Find Date-
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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Isle of Man, German: St John’s Kirk German
- Current Location- Manx Museum
- Type- Found in a field near a burial.
- Find Date- Unknown
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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England, Lancashire: Meols
- Current Location-
- Find Type-
- Find Date-
- Blade-
- Haft-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
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Select Bibliography