Spears

Spears are the most common weapon found in graves in Scandinavia during the earlier Viking Age, and in England from the earliest Saxon period. Grave evidence disappears completely with the general conversion to Christianity, but it is highly likely that spears remained the most common weapon in use - cheap and easy to produce, they are nevertheless a very effective weapon which requires little skill or training to use. Most Viking spearheads are long and thin (from 30cm to as long as 50cm), and would have been equally useful as thrusting or slashing weapons. From the length of the heads and the reconstructed length of the shafts (2-2.5 metres), it is likely that such spears were used in two hands. Although it has been suggested that these could be used in conjunction with a shield, it is perhaps more likely that they were used without a shield once the combat closed beyond the area in which missiles could be useful. Shorter spears capable of being used as javelins are also found in great numbers, suggesting that the opening rounds of a battle in Viking times would involve a salvo of missiles as the lines closed. Some of these are of a size which makes it difficult to decide whether they are small javelins or large arrow heads. These could also be used as a single-handed weapon with a shield, providing the reach of a spear while retaining the defence of a shield.

Archery

Bows of varying sizes were used extensively in hunting, and would undoubtedly have been used in battles, particularly at sea. Ranging from short bows of around 1 metre to sizes of almost 1.8 metres, these were capable of shooting over an effective range of up to 200 metres, being even more effective when used in volleys. An arrow shot from a Viking bow would almost certainly pierce a mail shirt at short range, but at longer ranges could only threaten unarmoured warriors unless a lucky shot hit an exposed area. The bows were made of yew or ash, with some late examples found of composite bows, strengthened with horn or iron. The nocks were of wood or horn, and the arrows probably of around 70cm.