Whats the evidence for

Axes in the Viking Age

>>>>>Work in Progress<<<<<
Last updated 12th July 2011
Note: Pictures are not to scale. Dimensions are given when known.
No one has reviewed the typology of axes since Wheeler in 1927. (OTTAWAY
2009)
Projecting spurs are a feature of Scandinavian rather than Anglo-Saxon axe
heads. (PEARSON, et al. 1981, P 161)
Side axes are characterized by being sharpened on only one side of their
blade giving an asymmetrical cutting edge. This makes them able to cut at a
low angle, achieving a smooth surface. (LEAHY 2003, P.17)

Find of unknown types

Thames, Hammersmith (PEARSON, et al. 1981, I 8)
Harbuck, Lanchester, Durham (SHETELIG 1940, V.IV P.74)

Gavin Archer 13 July 2011

Whats the evidence for

L , W.VI , R.

K , W.IV ,
R.I , W.IV ,
R.554
H , W.IV ,
R.555
* Mammen
c.971AD

G , W.IV , R.552

F , W.V ,
R.561
E , W.V , R.-

M , W.VI ,
R.560

D , W.V , R.-

M , W.VI ,
R.558

C - Not in UK

B , W.III ,
R.559
Extended Period ?

W.II

Extended Period ?

A , W.I , R.557

12th Century

1200

Gavin Archer 13 July 2011

1150

11th Century

1100

1050

10th Century

1000

950

900

850

800

9th Century

Axes in the Viking Age

Axe finds in Britain

Wheeler Typology I
A small woodland axe that altered little from pre Roman times onwards.

Old London Bridge

(WHEELER 1927, Fig 1(8))

Putney
Scale in Inches
(WHEELER 1927, Fig 8(1))

Walthamstow
Scale in Inches
(WHEELER 1927, Fig 8(2))

Wheeler Typology II
This type was more likely to be a tool than a weapon. Earlier types are not so slender
(Wheeler 1927)

Thames, Brentwood,
England
Scale in Inches C9th
(WHEELER 1927, Fig 1(4))

Thames, London, England

Scale in Inches C9th
(WHEELER 1927, Fig 1(5))

Walthamstow, England
Scale in Inches C9th
(WHEELER 1927, Fig 1(7))

Gavin Archer 13 July 2011

Thames, London, England

Scale in Inches C9th
(WHEELER 1927, Fig 1(6))

Whats the evidence for

Wheeler Typology III
Bearded axes that derived from fransicas.

Thames, Whitehall
(SHETELIG 1940, V.IV
P.86)
(PEARSON, et al. 1981, I
7)

Strand on the Green,

London
Scale in Inches
(WHEELER 1927, Fig 9(1))

Ballinaby, Islay, Scotland

L: 14.5cm x W: 5cm
(SHETELIG 1940, V.II Fig
15)

Ballinaby, Islay, Scotland

L: 14cm x W: 9cm
(SHETELIG 1940, V.II Fig
15)

Eigg, Grave 2, Scotland L:10.5cm x W: 10cm Type B (SHETELIG 1940, V.II P 68)
Pierowall, Westray L:14cm x W:10cm Type B (SHETELIG 1940, V.II P94)
Isle of Islay, Orkney? Mentioned in Wheeler 1927
Thames nr London ?
Reading ?
Hastings Downs ?
Ipswich, Suffolk (ornamented with cross-lines between blade and socket) C9th
(SHETELIG 1940, V.IV P.60)
Ipswich, Suffolk (vertical grooves on socket) (SHETELIG 1940, V.IV P.60)

Wheeler Typology IV

Thames Street,
Scale in Inches
(WHEELER 1927, Fig
10(1))

Aldergate
Scale in Inches
(WHEELER 1927, Fig
10(2))

Gavin Archer 13 July 2011

nr tower of London
Scale in Inches
(WHEELER 1927, Fig
10(3))

Axes in the Viking Age

York
L: 14.5 x W:10.8cm
(PEARSON, et al. 1981, D
14)
Jubbergate York, L: 21 x W: 16.4 (PEARSON, et al. 1981, D 17)
Knoc-y-doonee, Isle of Man L:7.5 x W:5 (SHETELIG 1940, V.II P 23)
Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford, Type G (SHETELIG 1940, V.IV P.74)

Wheeler Typology V
Transitional between types III and IV

Kew Bridge, London

Scale in Inches
(WHEELER 1927, Fig 9(2))

Repton
850-900AD
(SHETELIG 1940, V.IV P14,
Fig 2)

Kiloran Bay, Colonsay,

Scotland
L: 20.5cm x W: 13.5cm
(SHETELIG 1940, V.II Fig
28)

Tote, Sheabost, Skye - Type F (SHETELIG 1940, V.II P 70)

Reay, Caithness, Scotland - Type E (SHETELIG 1940, V.II P 19)
Hesket-in-Forest, Cumberland (SHETELIG 1940, V.IV P20 (e))

Gavin Archer 13 July 2011

Whats the evidence for

Wheeler Typology VI
The Dane Axe appears in Britain from 1000AD onwards.

Tower of London
Scale in Inches
(WHEELER 1927, Fig 9(3))

Chelsea, Barnes

Chelsea, Barnes

(WHEELER 1927, Fig

10(4))

(WHEELER 1927, Fig

10(5))

Battersea
(WHEELER 1927, Fig 11)

Old London Bridge

(WHEELER 1927, V.IV Fig
1(1))

Old London Bridge

(WHEELER 1927, V.IV Fig
1(1))

Old London Bridge

(WHEELER 1927, V.IV Fig
1(1))

Old London Bridge

(WHEELER 1927, V.IV Fig
1(1))

Old London Bridge

(WHEELER 1927, V.IV Fig
1(1))

Old London Bridge

(WHEELER 1927, V.IV Fig
1(1))
(PEARSON, et al. 1981, I
15a)

Old London Bridge

(WHEELER 1927, V.IV Fig
1(1))

Loch of Doon, Scotland

L: 20cm x W: 19cm R.560
(SHETELIG 1940, Fig 69)

Gavin Archer 13 July 2011

Axes in the Viking Age

? might be incorrect
picture ?

Dumfriesshire, Scotland
L: 19.5cm x W: 18cm
R.560
(SHETELIG 1940, Fig 70)

River Witham, Lincs

W: 22cm
(PEARSON, et al. 1981, I
6)

Surlingham Ferry, Norfolk,

England
W: 22cm 950-100AD
(MARGESEN 1997, P 28)
(PEARSON, et al. 1981, I
6)

Ely, Cambridgeshire
R.560 1000AD
(SHETELIG 1940, V.IV
P.64)
(WOV 2003, ref 1244)

Ely, Cambridgeshire
R.523 1000AD
(SHETELIG 1940, V.IV
P.64)

Thames at Hammersmith,
London
Type M
(SHETELIG 1940, V.IV
P.87)

Dunrobin Castle, Sutherland, Scotland, L: 19cm (SHETELIG 1940, V.II P 17)

Stanton Harcourt, Oxfordshire (found in Thames at Stanton) R.560 (SHETELIG 1940,
V.IV P 59)
Stratford, Essex R.560 (SHETELIG 1940, V.IV P.59) (WHEELER 1927, P.51)
Austin Friars, London, Type L (SHETELIG 1940, V.IV P.86)

Gavin Archer 13 July 2011

Whats the evidence for

Axes depicted in Anglo-Saxon manuscripts

MS Junius 11 (S.C. 5123) Caedmon Manuscript P.81

c.1000AD

MS Harley 603 Psalter

1000-1025AD

MS Junius 11 (S.C. 5123)

Caedmon Manuscript
P.87
c.1000AD

MS Cotton Tiberius B V (Vol. 1) Miscellany

1025-1050AD

MS 23 Prudentius, Psychomachia and

other poems
Late C10th

Gavin Archer 13 July 2011

Axes in the Viking Age

Bayeux Tapestry c.1076AD

Bibliography
FUGLESANG, Signe Horn. Some Aspects of the Ringerike Style. A phase of
11th century Scandinavian art. Odense University Press, 1980.
LEAHY, Kevin. Anglo-Saxon Crafts. Tempus, 2003.
MARGESEN, Sue. The Vikings in Norfolk. 1997.
OTTAWAY, Patrick. Anglo-Scandinavian Ironwork from Coppergate. York
Archaeological Trust, 1992.
. "The Products of the Blacksmith in Mid-Late Anglo-Saxon England."
www.pjoarchaeology.co.uk. 2009.
PEARSON, Kenneth, Else ROESDAHL, James GRAHAM-CAMPBELL, and Patricia
CONNER. The Vikings in England. The Anglo-Danish Viking Project, 1981.
PETERSEN, Jan. De Norske Vikingesverd. 1919.
Roesdahl, Else, and David M. Wilson. From Viking to Crusader, The
Scandinavians and Europe 800-1200. Nordic Council of Ministers, 1992.
RYGH, O. Norske Oldsager. Christiana, 1885.
SHETELIG, Haakon. Viking Antiquities in Great Britain and Ireland Part 2,
VIKING ANTIQUITIES IN SCOTLAND. 1940.
. Viking Antiquities in Great Britain and Ireland Part 4, VIKING ANTIQUITIES
IN ENGLAND. 1940.

Gavin Archer 13 July 2011

Whats the evidence for

WHEELER, R. E. Mortimer. London and the Vikings. London Museum
Catalogues: No 1, 1927.
WILSON, David. The Archaeology of Anglo-Saxon England. Cambridge
University Press , 1981.
WOV. World of the Vikings CD-ROM. Alive Learning Ltd, 2003.

Gavin Archer 13 July 2011