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If one ignores Oakeshott’s [OAKESHOTT 1960] rather short and glib analysis of spears in his seminal work ‘The Archaeology of Weapons’ then you quickly realise that spears follow fashion changes by time and region in much the same way as swords. Although not as glamorous as the sword, the spear was in every sense the definitive weapon of the Viking Age and used as the primary weapon of combat by almost every warrior. Decorated spearheads inlaid with precious metals prove that in the Viking Age spears were not seen as the poor man’s choice and one has only to look at the representations of warriors from the illuminated manuscripts of the era to quickly come to the conclusion that the use of the spear was ubiquitous. Many of the Anglo-Saxon phrases used to describe both battle and warrior help to underline the importance of the spear.<br>

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Numerous Anglo-Saxon and Carolingian sources depict the use of the spear being used one handed in an overarm style.

* Caedmon, æsc-plega, “Spear-bearer” is applied to a soldier. [HEWITT 1996: P.28]

* History of Judith, æsc-plega, “play of spears” used as a term for battle [HEWITT 1996: P.28]