Axe Head
This axe head was found in May of 2011 by a metal detectorist in the Wycombe district in England, outside of London. It was likely constructed around 950. The axe is iron, with a thin cutting face and a curved blade. The axe feature no clear design. The lightweight nature of the axe signifies that it was intended for use as a weapon, as opposed to a tool for cutting wood. Axes like this fall under the classification "Dane Axe,"[2] a type of axe popular in the Viking Era. Norse metalworking prowess was clear in their mastery of tools, such as axes.
One of the best depictions of a Dane Axe comes to us from the Bayeux Tapestry, a woven Norse tapestry dating back to the 1070s. One of the scenes shows a man holding a Dane Axe out in front of him.[3] Taking into account the current average height of a man (5’9”), scholars are able to estimate that the handle of the axe would have been several feet long. With the sharp, thin blade, and the long handle, the axe would have been perfect for carrying into battle.
This artifact falls right in line with the medieval stories featuring the Vikings, especially in England. The Norse were depicted as raiders, who eventually fought their way through most of England. Many of the original colonizers were also warriors. It is logical that warriors would be found with weapons nearby. The axe head is important because it supports the textual descriptions of Norse military techniques in the second wave of Danish invasions.
