Spears found in Britain

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This article's completion rating is 3 out of 5. Article data has been collected but still needs to be summarised.

Viking Age Compendium articles on Spears and Banners:

Wargear

Spears Overview

Spears found in Britain

Banners Overview

Banners from Literature

Viking Age Compendium articles on Spears and Banners:

Wargear

Spears Overview

Spears found in Britain

Banners Overview

Banners from Literature

The catalogue follows Thålin groups and then subdivided by Petersen's ^{[PETERSEN 1919]} types. Winged spearheads have been ground together in their own section and also include finds from outside of Britain. Each entry consists of the following components:

• Current location- The Musuem and catalogue number.
• Find Type- River find, grave find or stray. Also includes any proposed period dating.
• Find Date- The year that the find was discovered.
• Total length- The length, width, etc of the find
• Blade- The length, width, etc of the blade. Plus any published sugestions of typology.
• Socket- The length, width, etc of the blade plus decription of any decoration.
• Comments- Any other information or opinions.
• Bibliography- A list of published references.

Dimensions are given where known and can be stated in either imperial or metric measurements. Reference is sometimes made to Rygh types. Rygh’s ^{[RYGH 1885]} book illustrates examples of many pre-historic objects from Norway. These are designated as R.xxx where xxx is Rygh’s figure number.

Leaf-shaped Spearheads (Pre 900AD)
Petersen Types A-E
Group 1 consists of Petersen types A, B, C, D1 and E. They are all types with a lancoid blade and gradual transition from socket to blade.

Petersen Type D1

Long socket with a long narrow leaf shaped blade.
Similar to the type C but with a narrower blade and longer socket. Petersen discuss types D1 and D2 together and dates them to the C10th and in Norway they are found with Swords or types: S, Q, Special 20 and 1 with a type H. Also with Axe types: I-K and shields of R565.

England, Yorkshire: River Ouse

• Roesdahl, Else; Graham-Campbell, James; Connor, Patricia and Pearson, Kenneth (1981) The Vikings in England, and their Danish homeland. p.65 cat.D16

|i1=Spear_River_Ouse.jpg }}

England, Nottinghamshire: Nottingham

England, Cambridgeshire: River Ouse, Braham's Farm

England, London: Wandsworth

Petersen Type E

Short socket with a subtle transition into a long leaf shaped blade.
Petersen describes the blades of this type as having 'an almost regular width' along its length and it being 'not especially pointed'. In Norway found with Swords or types: C, D, E and H. Axes of types: A, D and 1 of C. Shield boss type: R564

England, Hertfordshire: Nazeing

England, London: River Thames

England, London: River Thames

Angular Spearheads with Short Sockets (950-1075AD)
Petersen Types D2, G & H
Group 2 consists of Petersen types D:2, G and H. They are all types with edge shoulders placed low on the blade and a short conical socket with marked narrowing below the blade.

Fuglesang includes the winged spears of Petersens type D2 in with this group as she removed wings as a determinant of typology making Petersens D2 and G types the same.
It has also been suggested by Fuglesang and Petersen that type G spearheads without wings may be of eastern origin with the majority of finds coming from Sweden and Finland. A few decorated type G spears have been found with Urnes style decoration.

Petersen Type G

A short, thick socket that usually continues partly into the blade. The blade is quite flat.
Petersen matches this type in Norway to Swords of types: R, S, Q, 2 of Y, 1 of X and 1 of AE. Axes of types: L, M. Dates to the second half of the C10th and into the C11th.
Ornamented versions of this type are mainly found in Sweden and the Baltic [Petersen 1919].

England, London: River Thames, Hampton Court

England, London: Walthamstow

Petersen Type H

In most ways the same as type G except for the moulding at the base of the blade and the socket is slightly longer.

England, Cambridgeshire: Soham

=England, Cambridgeshire: Ely

England, Cambridgeshire: River Cam, Dimmock's Cote nr. Upware

England, Lincolnshire: River Witham, Lincoln

Petersen Type D2

Similar to type H but with wings (lugs).
Petersen discuss types D1 and D2 together and dates them to the C10th and in Norway they are found with Swords or types: S, Q, Special 20 and 1 with a type H. Also with Axe types: I-K and shields of R565.

England, London:

England, ?

England, ?

England, York

Angular Spearheads with Long Sockets from Britain (840-1100AD)
Petersen types F, I, K & M
Group 3 consists of Petersen types F, I, K & M. They are all types with a narrow blade which is often shouldered and a socket that is long, narrow and conical.

Fuglesang has studied the K & M types of spearhead that are decorated in Ringerike designs. Due to difficulty in determining the exact typology of many of these spearheads she has introduced a new K/M type that falls between those of Petersens K and M ^{[FUGLESANG 1980]}.

Petersen Type F

long and thin socket ornamented with encircling ridges and depressions. The blade is widest as it joins the socket.
Found with sword types: M, L, K, H and I. Axes types: E, G and D. Type F spearheads generally have a length of 30-60cm with most being between 50-60cm. Petersen classes this a very numerous type in Norway and dates it from the middle C9th.^{[PETERSEN 1919]}. Possibly a precursor to type I spears.

England, Cumberland, Hesket-in-Forest, near Carlisle Current Location- Dimensions- Total- 11” long Blade- Socket- Notes- It has 6 pairs of close set rings each with a pair of rivet holes. I consider this to be a transitional type between F and I like those from Bruhaugen in Norway [PETERSEN 1919]:Fig. 16 and Sodermanland in Sweden. [BJORN & SHETELIG 1940]:p.20 Edwards quotes Cowan who considers this spear as a hybrid between Petersen's type F and I.[EDWARDS 1992]:P.46 Bibliography- [BJORN & SHETELIG 1940]:p.20 item c [EDWARDS 1992]:P.46

England, Oxfordshire, River Thames Current Location- Dimensions- Total- Blade- Socket- Notes- Small spearhead R529 Bibliography- [BJORN & SHETELIG 1940]:p.59

Petersen Type I

The socket commonly has 11 pairs of holes originally with bronze rivets. Some have up to 15 pairs of holes. Petersen classes these as not numerous in Norway ^{[PETERSEN 1919]}.

England, Cumberland, Hesket-in-Forest, near Carlisle Current Location- Dimensions- Total- 17 5/8” long with its tip missing. Blade- Socket- Notes- It has 7 pairs of rivet holes. Bibliography- [BJORN & SHETELIG 1940]:p.20 item b [EDWARDS 1992]:P.46

Petersen Type K

	England, Yorkshire, York Current Location- Dimensions- Total- Blade- Socket- Notes- Bibliography- Waterman, Dudley M. (1959) Late Saxon, Viking, and Early Medieval Finds from York. pp.59-106. Archaeologia: Vol.97 p.71-72
	England, Yorkshire, Camphill near Bedale Current Location- Dimensions- Total- Blade- Socket- Notes- Long and slender late Viking - Type K? Bibliography- [BJORN & SHETELIG 1940]:p.15
	Isle of Man, Balladoyne Current Location- Dimensions- Total- L:20-25” Blade- Socket- Notes- Type K, very rusty. A thin disk is attached to the socket. Inside the socket are fragments of fine linen fabric which had been bound twice around the point of the wooden shaft. Bibliography- [BJORN & SHETELIG 1940]:p.26
	Wales, Caerwent, Insula XII Current Location- Newport Museum & Art Gallery: NPTMG:D2/43 Find Type- Burial? Find Date- 1910/11 Dimensions- Total- L:550mm Blade- Socket- Notes- Found with an Axe Bibliography- [REDKNAP 2000]:p.53 fig.66(Image)
	England, Cambridgeshire, Ely Current Location- Dimensions- Total- Blade- Socket- Notes- found in the fens Bibliography- [BJORN & SHETELIG 1940]:p.67
	England, Surry, Sunbury Weir Current Location- Reading Museum Dimensions- Total- Blade- Central panel of herring-bone pattern welding Socket- Tubular socket Bibliography- [COLLINS 1949]:p.18 fig.A.3
	England, Berkshire, Cookham Current Location- Reading Museum Dimensions- Total- Blade- Central panel of herring-bone pattern welding Socket- Split socket Bibliography- [COLLINS 1949]:p.18 fig.A.2
	England, London, Thames at Kingston Current Location- Reading Museum Dimensions- Total- Blade- Central panel of herring-bone pattern welding Socket- Split socket Bibliography- [COLLINS 1949]:p.18 fig.A.1

	England, London, Old London Bridge Current Location- London Museum: A 23352 Find Type- River find. Part of a group of 16 items including 6 type k spearheads. Dated to the early C11th. Find Date- 1920s Dimensions- Total- Blade- Socket- Notes- "traces of a serrated band of inlay along each side of the mid-rib"[WHEELER 1927]:p.23 Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927]:p.2 fig.1.9 (image), p.23 [BJORN & SHETELIG 1940]:p.77
	England, London, Old London Bridge Current Location- London Museum: A 23348 Find Type- River find. Part of a group of 16 items including 6 type k spearheads. Dated to the early C11th. Find Date- 1920s Dimensions- Total- L:372mm x W:26mm Blade- Socket- Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927]:p.2 fig.1.10 (image), p.23 [BJORN & SHETELIG 1940]:p.77 London Museum
	England, London, Old London Bridge Current Location- London Museum: A 23350 Find Type- River find. Part of a group of 16 items including 6 type k spearheads. Dated to the early C11th. Find Date- 1920s Dimensions- Total- L:420mm x W:40mm Blade- Socket- Notes- "has slight traces of a zigzag strip of inlay down each side of the central rib."[WHEELER 1927]:p.20 Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927]:p.2 fig.1.11 (image), p.20, p.23 [BJORN & SHETELIG 1940]:p.77 London Museum
	England, London, Old London Bridge Current Location- London Museum: A 23351 Find Type- River find. Part of a group of 16 items including 6 type k spearheads. Dated to the early C11th. Find Date- 1920s Dimensions- Total- Blade- Socket- fragment of wooden shaft in socket [WHEELER 1927]:p.23 Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927]:p.2 fig.1.12 (image), p.23 [BJORN & SHETELIG 1940]:p.77
	England, London, Old London Bridge Current Location- London Museum: A 23349 Find Type- River find. Part of a group of 16 items including 6 type k spearheads. Dated to the early C11th. Find Date- 1920s Dimensions- Total- L:512mm x W:35mm Blade- Socket- fragment of wooden shaft in socket. Notes- slight moulding at base of blade Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927]:p.2 fig.1.13 (image), p.23 [BJORN & SHETELIG 1940]:p.77 London Museum
	England, London, Old London Bridge Current Location- London Museum: A 23353 Find Type- River find. Part of a group of 16 items including 6 type k spearheads. Dated to the early C11th. Find Date- 1920s Dimensions- Total- Blade- Socket- Notes- "The socket ls decorated with an elaborate interlacing pattern, inlaid in white metal; above this, the neck of the spear has eight facets, each bearing an inlaid key pattern. The lower end of the socket is damaged. but can be to some extent reconstructed from a strikingly similar spearhead found at Hyilestad, north of Bergen in Norway."[WHEELER 1927]:p.20 Wheeler identifies the decoration as Ringerike. Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927]:p.2 fig.1.14 (image), p.20-21 fig.5 (image), p.23 [BJORN & SHETELIG 1940]:p.77

	England, London, Putney Current Location- London Museum: A 25395 Find Type- Find Date- Dimensions- Total- Blade- Socket- Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927]:p.28-29 Fig.12.4 (image) [BJORN & SHETELIG 1940]:p.85
	England, London, nr. Tate Gallery Current Location- London Museum: A 14746 Find Type- Find Date- Dimensions- Total- Blade- Socket- Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927]:p.28-29 Fig.12.5(image) [BJORN & SHETELIG 1940]:p.85
	England, London, Thames River Current Location- British Museum 93.7-15.2 Find Type- Unknown, probably a River find. Find Date- 1848 Dimensions- Total- L:546mm x W:23 Blade- Socket- D:20mm Notes- socket covered with alternating silver and copper chevrons.[BJORN & SHETELIG 1940]:p.84 This type of decoration is known mainly from Norway.[GRAHAM-CAMPBELL 1980]:p.73 Bibliography- [BJORN & SHETELIG 1940]:p.84 fig.49 (image) [GRAHAM-CAMPBELL and KIDD 1980:p.115 fig.63] [GRAHAM-CAMPBELL 1980]:p.73 fig.259 British Museum
	England, London Current Location- British Museum: 56-4-1-1376 Find Type- Find Date- Dimensions- Total- 24" Blade- Socket- Bibliography- [BJORN & SHETELIG 1940]:p.84 fig.50
	England, London, Thames at Ditton Current Location- British Museum: 62-8-2-3 Dimensions- Total- 18" Blade- Socket- Bibliography- [BJORN & SHETELIG 1940]:p.84 fig.51
	England, London Current Location- British Museum: 55-10-29-1 Dimensions- Total- 12" Blade- Socket- Bibliography- [BJORN & SHETELIG 1940]:p.84 fig.52
	England, London, River Thames at Battersea Current Location- British Museum: 1857,0623.3 Find Type- River. C9th-C10th Find Date- 1857 Dimensions- Total- 494mm Blade- Socket- Bibliography- British Museum (image)

Petersen Type M

	Scotland, Kiloran Bay, Colonsay Current Location- National Museum of Scotland Dimensions- Total- original length:63.5cm Blade- in more than 5 badly rusted fragments. width:6.5cm Socket- with preserved rivets Bibliography- [GRIEG 1940]:p.50 fig.27(image)
	England, Kidlington, River Cherwell Current Location- Ashmolean Museum: 1949/928 Dimensions- Total- Blade- Socket- Bibliography- [MORRIS 1983]
	England, Hertfordshire, Lugg Mills Current Location- Dimensions- Total- Blade- Socket- Notes- Unpublished Bibliography- [MORRIS 1983]
	England, Essex, Nazeing Current Location- Dimensions- Total- L:246mm x W:35mm Blade- T:6mm Socket- D:18 mm Notes- Decoration between blade and socket consists of a barrel-shaped collar with two ribs above and below it. These had been forged by cutting into the spear when hot during manufacture. Pattern-welded blade. Bibliography- [MORRIS 1983]
	England, London, Thames at Datchet Current Location- London Museum: A 17479 Dimensions- Total- Blade- Socket- Notes- Unpublished Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927]:p.28 fig.12.6
	England, London, Thames Street Current Location- London Museum: Dimensions- Total- Blade- Socket- Bibliography- [WHEELER 1935]:pl.XI 4 [MORRIS 1983]
	England, London Current Location- London Museum: Dimensions- Total- Blade- Socket- Notes- Unprovenanced, but found in London Bibliography- [WHEELER 1935]:pl.XI 5 [MORRIS 1983]
	England, Berkshire, Pangbourne Current Location- British Museum: 1856,0701.1377 Find Type Find Date-1856 Dimensions- Total- 382mm Blade- Socket- Notes- Purchased from Charles Roach Smith Bibliography- British Museum (image)

	Wales, Flintshire, Talacre Current Location- Find Type- grave Find Date-1930 Dimensions- Total- 500mm Blade- Socket- Bibliography- [REDKNAP 2000]:P.54
	England, Kentmere Current Location- Kendal Borough Museum: We. SD 456 028 Find Type- Find Date-1942 Dimensions- Total- 343mm Blade- Socket- Notes- Type M but with a split socket Bibliography- [EDWARDS 1998]:p.25 fig.10.a & 11.a (image) [EDWARDS 1992]:p.51
	England, Kentmere Current Location- Kendal Borough Museum: We. c.SD 456 028 Find Type- Find Date-1942 Dimensions- Total- 400mm Blade- Socket- Bibliography- [EDWARDS 1998]:p.25 fig.10.b & 11.b (image) [EDWARDS 1992]:p.51
	England, Estheaite Current Location- La. c.SD 360 960 Find Type- Find Date-1976 Dimensions- Total- Blade- Socket- Notes- Type F Bibliography- [EDWARDS 1998]:p.25 fig.10.c (image) [EDWARDS 1992]:p.51
	England, Lancaster Current Location- Dimensions- Total- Blade- Socket- Bibliography- [EDWARDS 1998]:p.27-28 fig.12 (image)
No Picture	England, Nan Bield Pass Current Location- Dimensions- Total- Blade- Socket- Notes- Unpublished Bibliography- [EDWARDS 1998]:p.27-28

The following spearheads are referenced but have both no associated image and no type mentioned.

• Magdalen Bridge, Oxford, England ^{[BJORN & SHETELIG 1940]:P.12}
• West Ham, near Basingstoke, Hants, England. Possibly Saxon ^{[BJORN & SHETELIG 1940]:P.15}
• Ballaugh, Isle of Man (Lost) ^{[BJORN & SHETELIG 1940]:P.22}
• Boiden, near the lower Bridge of Froon, Scotland (Lost) The spear-head is 11 in. long and 2 in. broad.
• Scotland, Eriskay. 3.5" long and broken at the socket. leaf shaped blade. ^{[GRIEG 1940]:p.73} Javelin?

Winged

• Ballachrink, Jurby, Isle of Man: base of socket has wings ^{[BJORN & SHETELIG 1940]:P.25}

The following spearhead remains are either too fragmentary or have been lost so that a type cannot be ascertained.

• England, Lancashire, Claughton Hall, near Gortstaug. (Lost) ^{[BJORN & SHETELIG 1940]:P.18 [EDWARDS 1992]:P.46}
• Scotland, Eigg. Grave 2. Only the spearhead socket survives complete with some parts of the wooden shaft. ^{[GRIEG 1940]:p.68}