For a general overview see Spears.
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:
- Find Location
- Current location
- Find Type: Grave, Hoard, River or Stray
- Find Date
- Dimensions (if known)
- Any other information
- Bibliography of other 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.
Thålin Group 1
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
- Current Location- Yorkshire Museum
- Type-
- Find Date-
- Dimensions-
- Total- L:43.4 x W:5.2cm
- Blade-
- Socket-
- Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.93] [PENDLESONN 1980]:p.41 (image) [ROESDAHL 1981]:p.65 cat.D16 (image)
|
|
England, Nottingham
- Current Location- British Museum
- Dimensions-
- Total- L: 62.2cm (24.5” long x 2.5” wide)
- Blade-
- Socket-
- Notes- Grave Find. Type C-D, C9th. Affixed to a wooden shaft by a brass pin
- Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.15]
- The Archaeological Journal VIII p.424-425
|
|
England, Cambridgeshire, Braham's Farm
- Current Location- Cam. UMAA [1929.283]
- Type- Dredged from the River Ouse
- Find Date- 1929?
- Dimensions-
- Total-
- Blade-
- Socket-
- Notes- In remarkably good state of preservation. The blade is damascened, and the socket richly inlaid with silver, copper and ornaments of gold.
- Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.64 fig.31 (image)] [ROESDAHL 1981]:p.63 cat.D6 (image)
|
|
England, London, Wandsworth
- Current Location-
- Dimensions-
- Total-
- Blade-
- Socket-
- Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927]:fig.12-1
|
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: [:File:R564.jpg|R564]
|
England, Hertfordshire, Nazeing
- Current Location- ?
- Dimensions-
- Total- L.249mm x W.21mm
- Blade- L.? x W.? x T.7mm
- Socket- broken (under 20mm diamter)
- Notes- This socketed spear-head has a well-preserved blade, but very corroded and broken socket. Dated by Petersen to the 8th and 9th centuries
- Bibliography- [MORRIS 1983]
|
|
England, London, Thames
- Current Location- British Museum: 1854,0330.1
- Find Type- River. C9th-C11th
- Find Date- 1854
- Dimensions-
- Total- L.744mm
- Blade-
- Socket-
- Notes- Split socket and grooves around junction
- Bibliography-
- British Museum (Image)
|
|
England, London, River Thames
- Current Location- ?
- Dimensions-
- Total- L.249mm x W.21mm
- Blade- L.? x W.? x T.7mm
- Socket- broken (under 20mm diamter)
- Notes- Fuglesang has suggested that this spear resembles a type E spear.
- Bibliography- [FUGLESANG 1980]:p.139 [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.84 f.48]
|
Thålin Group 2
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, Thames at Hampton Court
- Current Location- London Museum
- Dimensions-
- Total-
- Blade-
- Socket-
- Notes- possible mouldings at base of blade
- Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:P.85] [WHEELER 1927]:P.28 Fig.12.2
|
|
England, London, Walthamstow
- Current Location- London Museum
- Dimensions-
- Total-
- Blade-
- Socket-
- Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:P.85] [WHEELER 1927]:P.28 Fig.12.3
|
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
- Current Location- University Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Cambridge
- Dimensions-
- Total-
- Blade-
- Socket-
- Notes- Fine spear-head of the late Viking type R.523, with a moulding at the base of the blade
- Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:P.64 Fig.33]
|
|
England, Cambridgeshire, Ely
- Current Location-
- Dimensions-
- Total-
- Blade-
- Socket-
- Notes- Spear-head of the type R. 523, of about 1000AD
- Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:P.64]
|
|
England, Cambridgeshire, River Cam at Dimmock's Cote nr. Upware
- Current Location-
- Dimensions-
- Total-
- Blade-
- Socket-
- Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:P.69] [WOV:cat.1242]
|
No Picture
|
England, Lincolnshire, River Witham at Lincoln
- Current Location- City and County Museum of Lincoln
- Dimensions-
- Total-
- Blade-
- Socket-
- Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:P.99]
|
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
- Current Location- British Museum: 1856,0701.1449
- Find Type- C9th-C10th
- Find Date- before 1856
- Dimensions-
- Total- 485mm
- Blade-
- Socket- domed copper alloy rivets in milled wire collars
- Bibliography-
British Museum (image)
|
|
England, ?
- Current Location- British Museum: No. 22
- Dimensions-
- Total-
- Blade-
- Socket-
- Bibliography- [STEPHENSON 2007]
|
|
England, ?
- Current Location- British Museum: No. 21
- Dimensions-
- Total-
- Blade-
- Socket-
- Bibliography- [STEPHENSON 2007]
|
|
England, York
- Current Location-
- Dimensions-
- Total-
- Blade-
- Socket-
- Notes- Bronze socket of spearhead from Farnham, Pitt Rivers Museum C11th. This type of spearhead could be considered to be an eastern (Finish) type except for this find from York and another from the British Museum.
- Bibliography- [FUGLESANG 1980]:fig.3 [LANG 1981] [KENDRICK 1949]:pl.LXIX
|
Thålin Group 3
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 and 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 and 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 and 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 and SHETELIG 1940:p.20 item b] [EDWARDS 1992]:P.46
|
Petersen Type K
|
England, Yorkshire, Camphill near Bedale
- Current Location-
- Dimensions-
- Total-
- Blade-
- Socket-
- Notes- Long and slender late Viking - Type K?
- Bibliography- [BJORN and 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 and 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 and 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 and 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 and SHETELIG 1940:p.77]
|
|
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 and SHETELIG 1940:p.77]
|
|
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 and 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 and SHETELIG 1940:p.77]
|
|
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 and 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 and 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 and 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 and SHETELIG 1940:p.84] This type of decoration is known mainly from Norway.[GRAHAM-CAMPBELL 1980]:p.73
- Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.84 fig.49 (image)] [GRAHAM-CAMPBELL and KIDD 1980:p.115 fig.63] [GRAHAM-CAMPBELL 1980]:p.73 fig.259
|
|
England, London
- Current Location- British Museum: 56-4-1-1376
- Find Type-
- Find Date-
- Dimensions-
- Total- 24"
- Blade-
- Socket-
- Bibliography- [BJORN and 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 and SHETELIG 1940:p.84 fig.51]
|
|
England, London
- Current Location- British Museum: 55-10-29-1
- Dimensions-
- Total- 12"
- Blade-
- Socket-
- Bibliography- [BJORN and 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)
|
Unclassified Spearheads
|
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 and SHETELIG 1940: P.12]
- West Ham, near Basingstoke, Hants, England. Possibly Saxon [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940: P.15]
- Ballaugh, Isle of Man (Lost) [BJORN and 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 and SHETELIG 1940: P.25]
Unclassifiable Spearheads
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 and 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]
References
[GRAHAM-CAMPBELL 1980B] *