Shields found in Britain

Shields found in Britain
Found in Britain
Axes found in Britain   Langseaxes found in Britain   Picture stones from the Isle of Man   Seaxes found in Britain   Shields found in Britain   Spears found in Britain   Swords found in Britain   Viking burials found in England   Viking burials found in Scotland   Viking burials found in the Isle of Man   Viking burials found in Wales

More Found in Britain pages

This article's completion rating is 1 out of 5. Article planned for future work. No real progress to date.

This article's completion rating is 1 out of 5. Article planned for future work. No real progress to date.

Viking Age Compendium articles on Shields:

Wargear

Round Shields Overview

Shields found in Britain

Round Shield Designs

Round Shield Bosses

Kite Shields

Viking Age Compendium articles on Shields:

Wargear

Round Shields Overview

Shields found in Britain

Round Shield Designs

Round Shield Bosses

Kite Shields

Due to the boss being the only part of the shield to survive I have classified the finds by shield boss type.
For a discussion about the shield boss types see Round Shield Bosses.

Type R562

Scandinavian

Scotland, Caithness: Reay

Current Location- National Museum of Scotland Find Type- Grave Find Find Date- 1920 Dimensions- Dia:5 7/8" H: 2 3/16" Comments- secured by 4 iron rivets Bibliography- Edwards, Arthur J.H. & Bryce, Thomas H (1927) 'Excavation of Graves at Ackergill and of an Earth-house at Freswick Links, Caithness, and a Description of the Discovery of a Viking Grave at Reay, Caithness. With a Preliminary Note on the Skeletal Remains from the Various Graves.' (pp 196-209) (Available Online) The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland: Vol.61 Grieg, Sigurd (1940) Viking Antiquities in Scotland. Edited by Haakon Shetelig. (Available Online) Viking Antiquities in Great Britain and Ireland: Part 2 p.19

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Scotland, : Ballinaby

Current Location- National Museum of Scotland Find Type- Grave Find Find Date- 1932 Dimensions- Dia:6", H:25⁄8" Comments- Bibliography- Edwards, Arthur J.H. (1934) 'A Viking Cist-Grave at Ballinaby, Islay'. (Available Online) The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland: Vol.68 Redmond, Angela Z. (2007) Viking Burial in the North of England. A Study of Contact, Interaction and Reaction between Scandinavian Migrants with Resident Groups, and the effect of Immigration on Aspects of Cultural Continuity.. British Archaeological Reports: BAR 429 Appx.5 no.183

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Scotland, Orkney, Rousay: Westness (Boat Burial)

Current Location- National Museum of Scotland Find Type- Boat Burial Find Date- Dimensions- Comments- Bibliography- Redmond, Angela Z. (2007) Viking Burial in the North of England. A Study of Contact, Interaction and Reaction between Scandinavian Migrants with Resident Groups, and the effect of Immigration on Aspects of Cultural Continuity.. British Archaeological Reports: BAR 429 p.78, Appx.5 No. missing?

Scotland, Orkney, Rousay: Westness (Oval Grave)

Current Location- National Museum of Scotland Find Type- Grave Find Find Date- Dimensions- Comments- Bibliography- Redmond, Angela Z. (2007) Viking Burial in the North of England. A Study of Contact, Interaction and Reaction between Scandinavian Migrants with Resident Groups, and the effect of Immigration on Aspects of Cultural Continuity.. British Archaeological Reports: BAR 429 p.78, Appx.5 No. missing?

Scotland, Durness: Balnakeil

Scran

Current Location- Manx Museum Find Type- Grave Find - boy Find Date- 1991 Type- R562 (Low) Dimensions- Comments- 4 rivets. Scientific analysis of parts of the flange revealed remains of the wooden shield with a leather covering. (Scran) Bibliography- Low, Batey & Gourlay. A Viking Burial at Balnakeil, Sutherland. n.d. p.140-142 [Scran]

Isle of Man, : Ballateare

Current Location- Manx Museum 1966-0373.08 Find Type- Grave Find Find Date- Type- Rygh 562 (Boast 2012) Dimensions- Dia:14.4cm; H:5.8cm No. of holes/nails- 4 Shield Board- 6.5x3.5cm 4.5mm thick. Decorated in red dots, black & white strips Comments- Bibliography- Bersu, Gerhard and Wilson, David M. (1966) Three Viking Graves in the Isle of Man. The Society for Medieval Archaeology Monograph Servies: No 1 Boast, Emma (2012) The Viking Shield in the British Isles: changes in use from the 8th-11th Century in England and the Isle of Man. Unpublished MA. (available online) no.5 p.74,86-94, 105-107

England, Cumbria: Cumwhitton - Grave 4

Current Location- Tullie House Museum Find Type- Grave Find Find Date- Type- Rygh R564 (Boast 2012) Dimensions- Dia:13.8cm, H:6.8cm (Boast 2012) No. of holes/nails- ? Shield Board- Comments- Bibliography- Boast, Emma (2012) The Viking Shield in the British Isles: changes in use from the 8th-11th Century in England and the Isle of Man. Unpublished MA. (available online) no.7 p.74,86-94, 105-107 Paterson, Caroline; Parsons, Adam J.; Newman, Rachel M.; Johnson, Nick and Howard Davis, Christine (2014) Shadows in the Sand. Excavation of a Viking-Age Cemetery at Cumwhitton, Cumbria.

England, Merseyside: Meols, Wirral

Current Location- Grosvenor Museum M2894 Find Type- Grave Find Find Date- 1877-89 Type- Rygh 562 (Boast 2012) Dimensions- Dia:16.8cm, H:4.9cm (Boast 2012) No. of holes/nails- 5 Shield Board- Comments- Bibliography- Boast, Emma (2012) The Viking Shield in the British Isles: changes in use from the 8th-11th Century in England and the Isle of Man. Unpublished MA. (available online) no.6 p.74,86-94, 105-107

England, Norfolk: Stoke Ferry, Wretton

Current Location- ? Find Type- Grave Find Find Date- Type- Dimensions- No. of holes/nails- Shield Board- Comments- HER 3/01/2011 Bibliography- Boast, Emma (2012) The Viking Shield in the British Isles: changes in use from the 8th-11th Century in England and the Isle of Man. Unpublished MA. (available online) p.95 [www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk]

Type R563

Scandinavian

Type R564

Scandinavian

Isle of Man, St. John's: Balladoyne Churchyard

Current Location- Manx Museum Find Type- Grave Find Find Date- 1822 Type- Rygh 564 (Boast 2012) Dimensions- Dia:6" (Bjorn & Shetelig 1940); Dia:15.5cm, H:9.0cm (Boast 2012) Comments- Bibliography- Bjorn, Anathon, and Shetelig, Haakon (1940) Viking Antiquities in England. Edited by Haakon Shetelig. (Available Online) Viking Antiquities in Great Britain and Ireland: Part 4 p.26 Boast, Emma (2012) The Viking Shield in the British Isles: changes in use from the 8th-11th Century in England and the Isle of Man. Unpublished MA. (available online) no.3 p.74,86-94, 105-107

Isle of Man, Ayre: Knoc-y-doonee

Current Location- Manx Museum 1954-2772/19 Find Type- Grave Find - Cremation Find Date- 1822 Type- Rygh 564 (Boast 2012) Dimensions- Dia:7" H:3¼"; Rim-width:1" (Bjorn & Shetelig 1940) Dia:15.5cm; H:5.7cm (Boast 2012) No. of holes/nails- 1 visible Shield Board- Had wood adhering. Comments- Bibliography- Bjorn, Anathon, and Shetelig, Haakon (1940) Viking Antiquities in England. Edited by Haakon Shetelig. (Available Online) Viking Antiquities in Great Britain and Ireland: Part 4 p.23 Boast, Emma (2012) The Viking Shield in the British Isles: changes in use from the 8th-11th Century in England and the Isle of Man. Unpublished MA. (available online) no.4 p.74,86-94, 105-107

England, Cumbria: Hesket-in-the-Forest

Current Location- Tullie House Museum RF 389-420 or 418/419: 1 822 Find Type- Grave Find - Cremation Find Date- 1822 Type- Rygh 564 (Boast 2012) Dimensions- Dia:5½" fragment (Bjorn & Shetelig 1940). Dia:11.4cm; H: 5.8cm (Boast 2012) No. of holes/nails- 1 visible Shield Board- Comments- Broken in 2 and damaged by fire. Boss was dented, probably after the cremation. Bibliography- Hodgson, Christopher (1832) 'An Account of some Antiquities found in a Cairn, near Hesket-in-the-Forest, in Cumberland' in Archaeologia Aeliana Vol.2. (Available Online) Bjorn, Anathon, and Shetelig, Haakon (1940) Viking Antiquities in England. Edited by Haakon Shetelig. (Available Online) Viking Antiquities in Great Britain and Ireland: Part 4 p.20 Edwards, B.J.N. (1998) Vikings in North West England. The Artifacts. p.12 Boast, Emma (2012) The Viking Shield in the British Isles: changes in use from the 8th-11th Century in England and the Isle of Man. Unpublished MA. (available online) no.8 p.74,86-94, 105-107

Irish Sea A Type

English?

Scotland, Arren: Millhill, Lamlash

Current Location- National Museum of Scotland Find Type- Grave Find Find Date- Dimensions- Comments- Bibliography- Grieg, Sigurd (1940) Viking Antiquities in Scotland. Edited by Haakon Shetelig. (Available Online) Viking Antiquities in Great Britain and Ireland: Part 2 p.27-28, fig.11 Harrison, Stephen H. & Ó Floinn, Raghnall 2014 Viking Graves and Grave-Goods in Ireland. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. Medieval Dublin Excavations 1962-81: Ser.B Vol.11 p.119

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Isle of Man, : Cronk Moar

Current Location- Manx Museum 1966-0374/05 Find Type- Grave Find Find Date- Type- Rygh 562 (Boast 2012); Irish Sea Type A (Harrison & Ó Floinn 2014) Dimensions- Dia:14.5cm, H:7.8cm (Boast 2012) No. of holes/nails- 6 Shield Board- fragment, 30x23cm, 4.48mm thick (Boast 2012) Comments- Bibliography- Bersu, Gerhard and Wilson, David M. (1966) Three Viking Graves in the Isle of Man. The Society for Medieval Archaeology Monograph Servies: No 1 Boast, Emma (2012) The Viking Shield in the British Isles: changes in use from the 8th-11th Century in England and the Isle of Man. Unpublished MA. (available online) no.1 p.74,86-94, 105-107 Harrison, Stephen H. & Ó Floinn, Raghnall 2014 Viking Graves and Grave-Goods in Ireland. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. Medieval Dublin Excavations 1962-81: Ser.B Vol.11 p.119

England, Cumbria: Appleby-in-Westmorland, Ormside

Current Location- Tullie House Museum 1898.24.2 Find Type- Grave Find Find Date- Type- Similar to C7th Anglo-Saxon (Boast 2012) Dimensions-Dia:6¾" H:3½" (Bjorn & Shetelig 1940). Dia:11.8cm, H:9.7cm (Boast 2012) No. of holes/nails- 2 visible Shield Board- Comments- Bibliography- Cowen, J.D. (1934) 'A catalogue of objects of the Viking period in the Tullie House Museum, Carlisle'. (Available Online) Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society: Ser.2 Vol.34 Bjorn, Anathon, and Shetelig, Haakon (1940) Viking Antiquities in England. Edited by Haakon Shetelig. (Available Online) Viking Antiquities in Great Britain and Ireland: Part 4 p.18 Boast, Emma (2012) The Viking Shield in the British Isles: changes in use from the 8th-11th Century in England and the Isle of Man. Unpublished MA. (available online) no.9 p.74,86-94, 105-107 Harrison, Stephen H. & Ó Floinn, Raghnall 2014 Viking Graves and Grave-Goods in Ireland. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. Medieval Dublin Excavations 1962-81: Ser.B Vol.11 p.119

Irish Sea B Type

English?

Isle of Man, : Balladoole

Current Location- Manx Museum 1966-0372/02a Find Type- Grave Find Type- Harrison's Irish Sea Type B (Boast 2012) Dimensions- Dia:11.3cm, H:7.2cm (Boast 2012) No. of holes/nails- 4 Shield Board- none Comments- Bibliography- Bersu, Gerhard and Wilson, David M. (1966) Three Viking Graves in the Isle of Man. The Society for Medieval Archaeology Monograph Servies: No 1 p.14-18 Boast, Emma (2012) The Viking Shield in the British Isles: changes in use from the 8th-11th Century in England and the Isle of Man. Unpublished MA. (available online) no.2 p.74,86-94, 105-107 Harrison, Stephen H. & Ó Floinn, Raghnall 2014 Viking Graves and Grave-Goods in Ireland. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. Medieval Dublin Excavations 1962-81: Ser.B Vol.11 p.120

Scotland, Colonsay: Kiloran Bay

Current Location- National Museum of Scotland Find Type- Grave Find Find Date- Dimensions- Dia:9cm H:11.5cm (top missing) Comments- Bibliography- Grieg, Sigurd (1940) Viking Antiquities in Scotland. Edited by Haakon Shetelig. (Available Online) Viking Antiquities in Great Britain and Ireland: Part 2 p.50, fig.29 Harrison, Stephen H. & Ó Floinn, Raghnall 2014 Viking Graves and Grave-Goods in Ireland. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. Medieval Dublin Excavations 1962-81: Ser.B Vol.11 p.120 [Scran]

Scotland, Argyll and Bute, Islay: Ballinaby

Current Location- National Museum of Scotland Find Type- Grave Find Find Date- Dimensions- Comments- Bibliography- Grieg, Sigurd (1940) Viking Antiquities in Scotland. Edited by Haakon Shetelig. (Available Online) Viking Antiquities in Great Britain and Ireland: Part 2 p.32-33, fig.14

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Shields still awaiting classification

Shields that we've not managed to establish a type for yet.

Scotland, Argyll and Bute, Colonsay: Machrins

Current Location- National Museum of Scotland I.L. 315-325 Type- Possible boat burial. c.850-950 Find Date- On or before 1898 Dimensions- Comments- Bibliography- MacLeod, D. J. 'From Viking Graves in Colonsay', Purchases for the Museum and Library. 1898. pp.7-8. p.7 Grieg, Sigurd (1940) Viking Antiquities in Scotland. Edited by Haakon Shetelig. (Available Online) Viking Antiquities in Great Britain and Ireland: Part 2 p.46, 47

England, Oxford: Magdalen Bridge

Current Location- Ashmolean Museum AN1884.513 Find Type- Discredited Grave Find Find Date- 1884 Dimensions- Dia:17cm H:10cm Comments- Bibliography- Bjorn, Anathon, and Shetelig, Haakon (1940) Viking Antiquities in England. Edited by Haakon Shetelig. (Available Online) Viking Antiquities in Great Britain and Ireland: Part 4 p.12 Ashmolean Museum [1]

Unclassified shields - too decayed

England, Derbyshire: Heath Wood (Mound 50), Ingleby

Current Location- Derby Museum HW99 Find Type- Grave Find Find Date- Type- No Boss (Boast 2012) Dimensions- n/a No. of holes/nails- Shield Board- Comments- only nails and shield clamps found Bibliography- Boast, Emma (2012) The Viking Shield in the British Isles: changes in use from the 8th-11th Century in England and the Isle of Man. Unpublished MA. (available online) no.10 p.74,86-94, 105-107

England, Derbyshire: Heath Wood (Mound 7), Ingleby

Current Location- Derby Museum HW99 Find Type- Grave Find Find Date- Type- No Boss (Boast 2012) Dimensions- n/a No. of holes/nails- Shield Board- Comments- only nails found Bibliography- Boast, Emma (2012) The Viking Shield in the British Isles: changes in use from the 8th-11th Century in England and the Isle of Man. Unpublished MA. (available online) no.11 p.74,86-94, 105-107

Unclassified shields - Lost or only possibly from the Viking Age

Scotland, Argyll and Bute, Argyll: Luss, Boiden

Also known as 'Lower Bridge of Froon, Boiden Mound'

Current Location-  Lost Type- Find date- April 1851 Dimensions- Dia:6½" H:2" Comments- Identified from a water colour by Dr. Joseph Anderson. Current location of both the sword and watercolour is unknown. Bibliography- Stewart, Hope. Notice of the Discovery of some ancient Arms and Armour nr. Glenfruin. 1854. Anderson, Joeseph (1874) 'Notes on the Relics of the Viking Period of the Northmen'.pp.536-94. (Available Online) The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland: Vol.10 p.569 Grieg, Sigurd (1940) Viking Antiquities in Scotland. Edited by Haakon Shetelig. (Available Online) Viking Antiquities in Great Britain and Ireland: Part 2 p.15

England, Cumbria: Beacon Hill Barrow, Aspatria

Current Location- ? Find Type- Find Date- 1789 Type- Dimensions- No. of holes/nails- Shield Board- Comments- HER 601 Bibliography- Boast, Emma (2012) The Viking Shield in the British Isles: changes in use from the 8th-11th Century in England and the Isle of Man. Unpublished MA. (available online) p.95

England, Lancashire: Sandhole Wood, nr Claughton Hall

Current Location- ? Find Type- Find Date- 1822 Type- Dimensions- No. of holes/nails- Shield Board- Comments- SMR PRN119-MLA119 Bibliography- Boast, Emma (2012) The Viking Shield in the British Isles: changes in use from the 8th-11th Century in England and the Isle of Man. Unpublished MA. (available online) p.95

England, Greater Manchester: Hasty Knoll, Blackrod, Bolton

Current Location- ? Find Type- Find Date- 1770 Type- Dimensions- No. of holes/nails- Shield Board- Comments- SMR 501.1.0 Bibliography- Boast, Emma (2012) The Viking Shield in the British Isles: changes in use from the 8th-11th Century in England and the Isle of Man. Unpublished MA. (available online) p.95

England, Nottinghamshire: Bingham, Rushcliffe

Current Location- ? Find Type- Find Date- 1863 Type- Dimensions- No. of holes/nails- Shield Board- Comments- MON 8873 SMR 1463 Bibliography- Boast, Emma (2012) The Viking Shield in the British Isles: changes in use from the 8th-11th Century in England and the Isle of Man. Unpublished MA. (available online) p.95

England, Bedfordshire: Harrold, Bedford Borough

Current Location- ? Find Type- Find Date- 1950 Type- Dimensions- No. of holes/nails- Shield Board- Comments- SMR 64-MBD64 Bibliography- Boast, Emma (2012) The Viking Shield in the British Isles: changes in use from the 8th-11th Century in England and the Isle of Man. Unpublished MA. (available online) p.95

England, Cambridgeshire: Waterbeach

Current Location- ? Find Type- Find Date- 1938 Type- Dimensions- No. of holes/nails- Shield Board- Comments- HER 05351 Bibliography- Boast, Emma (2012) The Viking Shield in the British Isles: changes in use from the 8th-11th Century in England and the Isle of Man. Unpublished MA. (available online) p.95

England, Cambridgeshire: Bartlow

Current Location- ? Find Type- Find Date- 1853 Type- Dimensions- No. of holes/nails- Shield Board- Comments- HER 06132 Bibliography- Boast, Emma (2012) The Viking Shield in the British Isles: changes in use from the 8th-11th Century in England and the Isle of Man. Unpublished MA. (available online) p.95

England, Cambridgeshire: Unknown

Current Location- ? Find Type- Find Date- ? Type- Dimensions- No. of holes/nails- Shield Board- Comments- HER 09788B Bibliography- Boast, Emma (2012) The Viking Shield in the British Isles: changes in use from the 8th-11th Century in England and the Isle of Man. Unpublished MA. (available online) p.95

England, Berkshire: Aston Rise, Remenham

Current Location- ? Find Type- Find Date- 1921 Type- Dimensions- No. of holes/nails- Shield Board- Comments- HER 00652.00.000-MWK1041 Bibliography- Boast, Emma (2012) The Viking Shield in the British Isles: changes in use from the 8th-11th Century in England and the Isle of Man. Unpublished MA. (available online) p.95

England, Berkshire: Reading

Current Location- ? Find Type- Find Date- ? Type- Dimensions- No. of holes/nails- Shield Board- Comments- HER 01642.00.000-MRD3657 Bibliography- Boast, Emma (2012) The Viking Shield in the British Isles: changes in use from the 8th-11th Century in England and the Isle of Man. Unpublished MA. (available online) p.95

England, Berkshire: Noah's Ark field, Cookham

Current Location- ? Find Type- Find Date- ? Type- Dimensions- No. of holes/nails- Shield Board- Comments- HER 00505.00.000-MRW836 Bibliography- Boast, Emma (2012) The Viking Shield in the British Isles: changes in use from the 8th-11th Century in England and the Isle of Man. Unpublished MA. (available online) p.95

England, Oxford: Park Crecent

Current Location- ? Find Type- Find Date- 1865 Type- Dimensions- No. of holes/nails- Shield Board- Comments- HER 6048-MOX9982 Bibliography- Boast, Emma (2012) The Viking Shield in the British Isles: changes in use from the 8th-11th Century in England and the Isle of Man. Unpublished MA. (available online) p.95

England, West Sussex: Clayton

Current Location- ? Find Type- Find Date- 1824 Type- Dimensions- No. of holes/nails- Shield Board- Comments- SMR 4121-MWS969 Bibliography- Boast, Emma (2012) The Viking Shield in the British Isles: changes in use from the 8th-11th Century in England and the Isle of Man. Unpublished MA. (available online) p.95

Select Bibliography

Bersu, Gerhard and Wilson, David M. (1966) Three Viking Graves in the Isle of Man. The Society for Medieval Archaeology Monograph Servies: No 1 ^{[BERSU & WILSON 1966]} *

Boast, Emma (2012) The Viking Shield in the British Isles: changes in use from the 8th-11th Century in England and the Isle of Man. Unpublished MA. (available online) ^{[BOAST 2012]} *

Bjorn, Anathon, and Shetelig, Haakon (1940) Viking Antiquities in England. Edited by Haakon Shetelig. (Available Online) Viking Antiquities in Great Britain and Ireland: Part 4 ^{[BJORN & SHETELIG 1940]} *

Grieg, Sigurd (1940) Viking Antiquities in Scotland. Edited by Haakon Shetelig. (Available Online) Viking Antiquities in Great Britain and Ireland: Part 2 ^{[GRIEG 1940]} *

Harrison, Stephen H. & Ó Floinn, Raghnall 2014 Viking Graves and Grave-Goods in Ireland. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. Medieval Dublin Excavations 1962-81: Ser.B Vol.11 ^{[HARRISON & Ó FLOINN 2014]} *

Redmond, Angela Z. (2007) Viking Burial in the North of England. A Study of Contact, Interaction and Reaction between Scandinavian Migrants with Resident Groups, and the effect of Immigration on Aspects of Cultural Continuity.. British Archaeological Reports: BAR 429 ^{[REDMOND 2007]} *

Roesdahl, Else; Graham-Campbell, James; Connor, Patricia and Pearson, Kenneth (1981) The Vikings in England, and their Danish homeland. ^{[ROESDAHL 1981]} *