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F – 30cm to 50-60cm, 50-60cm being typical.
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==Javelins or darts==
Javelins, sometimes referred to as ‘darts’, are small spears designed for throwing although it is likely that they were also used as thrusting weapons in the same manner as spears.<br>
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==Angons==
'''Petersen type ‘L’ spearheads'''<br>
[[File:R211.jpg|thumb|100x150px|left]]
A 3 foot long metal shaft with twin barbs mounted on a wooden shaft. <br>
A Frankish weapon used in a similar way to the Roman pilum and in fashion between the 5th to mid 8th century. It was designed to be thrown at the enemy’s shield. The iron shaft would hen bend and the weight of the angon would pull the enemy’s shield down. [THOMPSON 2004: p.52-53].<br>
A similar weapon is Petersen’s type L spear. The primary difference is that whereas the Angon was socketed, Petersen’s Norwegian spears were tanged. Two types are described. The earlier barbed form is more numerous and dated to the first half of the C9th. Petersen could only cite 2 examples of the later type which dates to the mid C10th. This form’s head is more triangular in shape and is not barbed. [PETERSEN 1919]<br>
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|Archaeology
|Discussion =
Using a spear in combat two-handed and with a slung shield evolved in the 1980’s as a way of winning re-enactment battles [SIDDORN 2005]. Using a spear in this fashion has one huge obvious disadvantage, you cannot defend your head with your shield! Having said this I do believe that some of the large headed winged spears could have possibly been used two-handed , as both hunting spears and combat spears. <br>
To the best of my knowledge we have no written sources that describe this form of warfare. This is not surprising, however, as most of the writings that we have are either short, factual chronicles or allegorical poems. From archaeology we have hundreds of large spearheads. On the whole these still have thin sockets, usually less than 25mm (1”) in diameter, and so would be unsuitable for the stout spear shafts that you would expect to see associated with a two-handed weapon. Another argument against their use in this manner are the manuscript images clearly showing these large spear heads being used single-handed, such as the Codex Aureus Epternacensis illustrated in AD c.1040.<Br>
We do however have numerous images of warriors using spears two-handed. Just not in association with a shield. This is what you’d expect as anyone armed with just a spear would automatically use it with both hands.<br>
{{Ref|Book=Siddorn 2005}}
{{Ref|Book=Swanton 1973}}
{{Ref|Book=Thompson 2004}}
{{Ref|Book=Westphal 2006}}
{{Ref|Book=Wheeler 1927}}
