Shields found in Britain

...
Viking Age Compendium articles on 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

Scotland, : Ballinaby

Current Location- National Museum of Scotland

Find Type- Grave Find

Find Date- 1932

Dimensions- Dia:6", H:2⁵⁄₈"

Comments-

Bibliography-

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

File: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-

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-

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-

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-

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-

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-

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-

Irish Sea A Type

English?

Scotland, Arren: Millhill, Lamlash

Current Location- National Museum of Scotland

Find Type- Grave Find

Find Date-

Dimensions-

Comments-

Bibliography-

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-

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-

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-

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-

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

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-

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-

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-

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)}