This oak spade, found in Vestfold, Norway, symbolizes the often-overlooked agricultural side to the Viking Age. It has a shaft spanning 63.5 centimeters and a blade 35.0 centimeters long and about 15 centimeters wide.¹ The spade is clearly practical in nature due to its lack of decoration and simplicity of design. Its length and perpendicular connection on one side from the shaft to blade implies the Norse used it by gripping the handle and pushing the blade into the earth with their foot, similar to modern shovels.

It is remarkable that this artifact has survived through the ages, given that it is made out of oak. Wood decomposes extremely rapidly compared to most other materials that form relatively long-lasting objects. Many agricultural tools were crafted of wood because they did not need to withstand the blows of battle. Because of this, it is much more common to uncover metal or stone artifacts from the Viking Age, which biases our interpretation of that time period. More standard finds such as these include weaponry and jewelry, whereas wooden agricultural appliances are not present to shed insight into a very different, but no less important, aspect of Norse culture.

This spade is a valuable discovery on the search for truth through material interpretation. It is easy to overlook the fact that the same people, those who led seasonal raids after discovering the wealth to be gained, also led a relatively peaceful, domesticated life in their homeland.² When the image of “Vikings” at the forefront of popular culture is one of raping and pillaging, it is important to step back and consider the other salient aspects of Norse culture at the time, including its agricultural side.