The Viking World: A History in ObjectsMain MenuGallery viewA galleryTag Cloudtag cloud pageThemesA path of thematic categoriesAuthor IndexExplore the collection by authorWorks CitedReferencesAdam Bigelow3afa9c7ecebf516bba6609664b1b12f79c54bf77Caitlin Donahue61b7e986e7c71d400e5c803912ed83c0cf65252fCaroline Harvey1783f21a5882b5b4d3d0b6c174d058052a5ff7eaEdward Hershewee701ef220480b51ca728fc9c719bc094cf813655Martin Hoffmana1fd203afd9a84ee8db567e188cf6ed1d269386eTyler Hruby23493f763b312110686cfafc62578fd0ab5f3833Brittany N. Johnsonc1c1763339f8fa953e3c907c6bb8a3bad0c28b2cCarlos Lua Pineda0a28cc23b0aa00b4f24a9e205aeb57fbdb07ff01Moira McConnell710633400590ea38533ea3412c01fc5056288180Clara McCurdy9aec76477d0b55f9c685c47330d6786ec98182e1Elise McIlhaneyef48481634ff342c8b43c9d56f678b2d3562fb69Cameron Meikle669a5682bfbfd603130a26e25628f24eb07e6295Alexander Christopher Newkirk019c2f5b38c043507251d1789e2fdf47e61c3b7fBenja Reilly816c23aa0d444213fb2d1ef33555a15617e08228Oliver Statenc625ae8c3926f5e1a4268bc91d6a6f4cdb1e7fb6Liam Sullivanaa3a1dccb90c7fe4646b61c4af594abbb0c5574aRead Wilder31bf4715220144a665996f2e6cae80a1a8611eadAliza Yazdanicd49f227d88c72331226ddf574bf56c37308cd10Austin Masonf6137011c68eb792c6e14634815583b15e707dea
Birka Axe
12017-05-15T18:27:35-07:00Clara McCurdy9aec76477d0b55f9c685c47330d6786ec98182e1164562Iron axe found on the island with the trading center Birka in Sweden.plain2017-05-15T18:32:47-07:00Björn Gustafsson, Ny. Axe. Still Image, April 9, 2006. 417955. Historiska Museet. http://mis.historiska.se/mis/sok/fid.asp?fid=417955.700-1000417955CC BY59.334970, 17.544725ironHistoriska MuseetBjörkö, SwedenViking AgeClara McCurdy9aec76477d0b55f9c685c47330d6786ec98182e1
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12017-05-24T10:09:20-07:00Austin Masonf6137011c68eb792c6e14634815583b15e707deaMap ViewAustin Mason2An interactive map of all the objects in the collectiongoogle_maps2017-05-24T11:39:30-07:00Austin Masonf6137011c68eb792c6e14634815583b15e707dea
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12017-05-22T08:14:53-07:00Birka Axe7object pageplain2017-09-13T20:43:11-07:00Vikings were able iron tool producers. Evidence of iron production has been found with viking settlements across Scandinavia, England, and even L’anse aux Meadows, the short-lived North American settlement. Iron products were essential for shipbuilding, farm work, and raiding - almost every aspect of Norse life. This axe was found on the island of Björkö, near present-day Stockholm, the same island that the viking era trading center, Birka, was located.[1]
Norse produced the tools from iron collected from bogs. Natural processes created iron deposits that were available for harvest by Scandinavians in those areas.[2] In addition, some vikings were able to mine iron ore from the earth directly. The whole process was time-consuming and required expertise, despite its ubiquity. Once collected, the iron was roasted to remove impurities and the actual smithing process took place using a clay or clay-lined furnace.[3]
This axe has a wide semi-circular edge, a little less than a foot in width at its widest part, and thins to the head of the axe that is a few inches in length. The handle is not present; it was probably made of a more easily degradable material like wood, unlike the iron. The location of this axe is of particular importance. Birka was founded sometime during the 8th century, the center is regarded as the oldest town in Scandinavia.[4] It remained active until the 11th century, the artifact is from sometime during this period.
Viking era axes have been classified into typology to further distinguish their uses and construction. This particular axe, with its wide curved edge, thin blade, and small head is similar to type M of Petersen’s typology scheme. Also called a Dane or Danish Axe, it was popular throughout Scandinavia and many other parts of Europe.[5] This type was commonly used in warfare and has been found in over a dozen graves in Scandinavia.[6] These graves often included items of high status indicating that the axe was important to the upper class or at least the warrior class. Either way, its presence at Birka doesn’t mean that Birka was subject to raids and warfare. The fact that Birka was such an important trading center, coupled with the wide appeal of this type of the object means that it is more likely that this axe came to Birka to be traded.