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# Spurs - longer than Type D. The lower spur is often longer and positioned more forward towards the blade.
 
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# Blade - The upper edge has a more pronounced curve than Type D. The lower edge has a less distinct beard and the curve of the beard to pulled more back towards the neck.
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# Blade - The curve of the blade is not symmetrical with the lower portion sweeping more towards the hilt. The upper edge has a more pronounced curve than Type D. The lower edge has a less distinct beard and the curve of the beard to pulled more back towards the neck.
 
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Revision as of 15:06, 21 August 2018

Axe.png

Viking Age Axe Typology
More Weapons pages

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Viking Age Compendium articles on Knives and Axes:
VA Axes.jpg
Axes Overview
Viking Age Compendium articles on Knives and Axes:
VA Axes.jpg
Axes Overview

Introduction

Axes can be both weapons and also tools. Many may have been used as both.
There are only two typologies for Viking Age axes, Petersen from 1919 and Wheeler from 2017. No one has reviewed the typology of axes since Wheeler in 1927. [OTTAWAY 2009]
The dates used on this page are derived from 'Vikings at War' [HJARDAR & VIKE 2016]:p.163

Parts of an Axe Head

Petersen used the following to determine the typology:[PETERSEN 1919]

  1. Spurs - can be long or short, more or less pointed, or cut clean, upper and lower lobes can be of different length, they can be directly opposed to each other, or offset, one further forward than the other [PETERSEN 1919].
    Projecting spurs are a feature of Scandinavian rather than Anglo-Saxon axe heads. [ROESDAHL 1981]:p.161
  2. Neck - The older types have a long and wide butt [PETERSEN 1919] .
  3. Blade - can be more or less curved outward, more curved out below than above, and even be sloped in relation to the shaft hole section [PETERSEN 1919].
    Side axes are characterized by being sharpened on only one side of their blade giving an asymmetrical cutting edge. This makes them able to cut at a low angle, achieving a smooth surface. [LEAHY 2003]:p.17

Type A (Wheeler I / Rygh 557)


  1. Spurs - small, symmetrically positioned, either forming a smooth rounded line or small pointed lobes
  2. Neck - slender
  3. Blade - largely symmetrical, with little curvature.


  • Date - From pre Viking period to AD 840.
  • Location - Most are found in Sweden and some in Norway. None have been found in the UK.


Notes:

  • if the Spurs are larger then the axe would be considered to be transitional to type G.
  • if the Spurs or Blade become less symmetrical then the axe would be considered to be transitional to type H.

Wheeler II

  1. Spurs -
  2. Neck -
  3. Blade -


  • Date - From AD to AD .
  • Location -

Type B (Wheeler III / Rygh 559)

  1. Spurs - usually more pointed than Type A but generally still quite low.
  2. Neck - slender.
  3. Blade -has little curvature on the upper edge, but the lower edge curves down to a “beard".


  • Date - From AD 600 to AD 840.
  • Location -

Type C

    1. Spurs - No spur on the top of the neck.
    2. Neck - has a large butt.
    3. Blade - has a straight upper edge.


    • Date - From Roman period to AD 900.
    • Location - Most are found in Sweden and some in Norway. None have been found in the UK.

    Type D (Wheeler V)

    1. Spurs - generally larger and more curved than Type B.The lower spur is sometimes larger than the top one.
    2. Neck - thicker than Type B.
    3. Blade - has a beard that is less steep than Type B. Has a ridge, behind which the blade becomes thinner.


    • Date - From AD 800 to AD 875.
    • Location -

    Type E (Wheeler V)

    1. Spurs - longer than Type D. The lower spur is often longer and positioned more forward towards the blade.
    2. Neck -
    3. Blade - The curve of the blade is not symmetrical with the lower portion sweeping more towards the hilt. The upper edge has a more pronounced curve than Type D. The lower edge has a less distinct beard and the curve of the beard to pulled more back towards the neck.


    • Date -
      • E1 from AD 850 to AD 975.
      • E2 from AD 875 to AD 1025.
    • Location -

    Type F (Wheeler V / Rygh 561)

    1. Spurs - the same as Type E. The lower spur is often longer and positioned more forward towards the blade
    2. Neck -
    3. Blade - although similar to Type E, the blade is more symmetrical and the curve of the beard is set even further back towards the neck.


    • Date - From AD to AD .
    • Location -

    Type G (Wheeler IV / Rygh 552)

    1. Spurs -
    2. Neck -
    3. Blade -


    • Date - From AD to AD .
    • Location -

    Type H (Wheeler IV / Rygh 555)

    1. Spurs -
    2. Neck -
    3. Blade -


    • Date - From AD to AD .
    • Location -

    Type I (Wheeler IV / Rygh 554)

    1. Spurs -
    2. Neck -
    3. Blade -


    • Date - From AD to AD .
    • Location -

    Type K (Wheeler IV)

    1. Spurs -
    2. Neck -
    3. Blade -


    • Date - From AD to AD .
    • Location -

    Type L (Wheeler IV)

    1. Spurs -
    2. Neck -
    3. Blade -


    • Date - From AD to AD .
    • Location -

    Type M - Broad axe (Dane axe) (Wheeler VI / Rygh 558 & 560)

    Museum of London
    London Bridge


    1. Spurs -
    2. Neck -
    3. Blade -


    • Date - From AD to AD .
    • Location -

    Throwing axes

    I am currently unaware of any evidence for throwing axes from the Viking Age (AD 793-1100). A type of axe called a 'Francisca' was specifically designed for throwing. It dates to the period AD 400-550. [WHEELER 1935]:p.141. Wheeler suggests that it evolves into the bearded axe of the Viking Age [WHEELER 1927]:p.24.
    It has been suggested that small axes such as the Mammen Axe, from Mammen in Denmark, may have possibly been thrown [CITATION NEEDED].

    Leather axe loops

    A strip of waste leather with a slit cut down its center tucked through the belt. The axe is dropped through the two slit holes. Ideally leather should be thin enough to snap if a firm tug is made upon the axe handle.
    Art
    --
    Literature
    --
    Archaeology

    Discussion
    Although the exact use of these strips is impossible to deduce and Cameron suggests uses such as a method of knife sheaf suspension or a way of making a longer daisy chain style of leather strap.
    We never see axes suspended from the waist in manuscripts. Even so it is felt that some mechanism for wearing an axe at the waist must of existed as just simply tucking the axe through the belt would have been hindering to movement and not secure.

    Edge protectors for axe

    Edge protectors of wood have been found in Hedeby, Denmark [WESTPHAL 2006] [SCHIETZEL 2014]:p.579

    References

    Hjardar, Kim & Vike, Vegard (2016) Vikings at War. [HJARDAR & VIKE 2016] ^ *
    Leahy, Kevin (2003) Anglo-Saxon Crafts. [LEAHY 2003] ^ *
    Mould, Quita; Carlisle, Ian and Cameron, Esther (2003) Leather and Leatherworking in Anglo-Scandinavian and Medieval York. York Archaeological Trust: 17/16 [MOULD, CARLISLE & CAMERON 2003] ^ 1 2 *
    Ottaway, Patrick (2009) THE PRODUCTS OF THE BLACKSMITH IN MID-LATE ANGLO-SAXON ENGLAND. http://www.pjoarchaeology.co.uk/docs/14/anglosaxon-ironwork-part-1.pdf [OTTAWAY 2009] ^ *
    Petersen, Jan (1919) De Norske Vikingesverd. [The Viking Sword]. [PETERSEN 1919] ^ 1 2 3 4 *
    Roesdahl, Else; Graham-Campbell, James; Connor, Patricia and Pearson, Kenneth (1981) The Vikings in England, and their Danish homeland. [ROESDAHL 1981] ^ *
    Schietzel, Kurt (2014) Spurensuche Haithabu [Searching for the Remains of Hedeby]. [SCHIETZEL 2014] ^ *
    Thompson, Logan (2004) Ancient Weapons in Britain. [THOMPSON 2004] *
    Westphal, Florian. (2006) Die Holzfunde von Haithabu. Hedeby-Ausgrabungen in Haithabu [WESTPHAL 2006] ^ *
    Wheeler, R.E.M. (1927) London and the Vikings. London Museum Catalogues: No 1 [WHEELER 1927] ^ *
    Wheeler, R.E.M. (1935) London and the Saxons. London Museum Catalogues: No 6 [WHEELER 1935] ^ *