Viking Axes Found in Graves

Axes were an important part of Viking culture. They were used as weapons, tools, ceremonial objects and grave goods.

Axes were found in both richly furnished warrior graves as well as simple tombs where the deceased had little to adorn their final resting place. Axes were also used as a status symbol.
Axes as weapons

Axes were the primary weapons used by Viking warriors in combat. They were easy to use, light enough to swing with one hand, and they were deadly. They were also versatile and could be used to tear enemy shields like paper.

A large number of axes have been found in archaeological excavations. They range in size from one to five feet long and have a variety of different blade profiles. Some were Viking axe designed for wood-cutting, while others were made for battle.

The axes used for battle had a thicker blade profile than those for farm work. They were usually longer and larger than their farm axe counterparts, making them more effective in battle.

Some axes were even designed to be used as throwing weapons. It isn’t clear if axes were regularly thrown in battle, but it is possible that they were sometimes used this way.

For example, chapter 33 of Hardar saga tells of a battle where Sigurdr threw his axe at Thorvaldr. It hit Thorvaldr in the head and killed him.

Another axe used as a weapon was the skeggox (also known as a bearded axe). This type of axe had an asymmetrical head, with the lower edge extending downwards like a beard.

This design allowed the axe to have a wide cutting surface, while still being relatively light and able to deliver powerful blows. It was often used to slice through leather armour or to inflict serious wounds on an opponent.

These axes were more common in the Viking age than other types of weapons such as swords, which had become the most popular weapon of choice by this point. They were also used to cut down trees and process wood.

Axes with short hafts were particularly useful in Viking battles as they could be hidden easily under a cloak and used for surprise attacks. They were also useful for pulling weapons out of the hands of an enemy or to hook the edge of a shield.

A number of axes have been discovered and restored. Many of them are categorized into a typology that organizes Viking weapons by their head shape, intended use, and time period. This type of organization is a great help to archaeologists and other experts when it comes to understanding these ancient weapons. Several influential Viking scholars have developed these typologies and they are now used by archaeologists all over the world.
Axes as tools

In the Viking era, axes were used more as tools than as weapons. They were less expensive than swords and could be easily manufactured. They were also a good tool for wood-cutting and splitting which was important to the Norse economy.

Axes were lightweight so that they were easy to handle and throw. They were also very strong and sharp so they could cleave through leather armour and cause serious wounds. Some types of axes were meant for close combat while others were intended for heavy-duty work.

During the Viking age, many axes were made from iron. They were used for a variety of purposes such as fighting, hunting, felling trees and building ships.

Most axes had cutting edges that were generally 3 to 6 inches long. During the medieval Viking period, axes became larger and had blades that were 9 to 18 inches long!

Some axes had points called "horns" which were kept very sharp so that they could be used as offensive weapons. These horns were especially useful for slashing attacks because they widen much more than a spear point or a sword point.

One of the most common axes was the Dane axe which was light and thin and had a curving edge that made it a great weapon for fighting. Another type of axe was the bearded axe which was heavy and thick and had a blunt edge which made it a good tool for wood-cutting.

These axes were found in all parts of Scandinavia, and some were even brought to the UK by ship. The axe heads on these axes were made from stone, but they eventually shifted to iron as the Scandinavian people developed their axe-making skills.

The axe head was typically fixed to the haft of the axe using a wedge-shaped piece called the eye. There are many different ways of doing this, but in general the eye had to be a solid piece of iron, as any crack or split would tear off the edge. A piece of hammered steel was then welded onto the eye to form a symmetrical edge. This was a simple process that required only a few steps to complete.
Axes as ceremonial objects

During the Viking Age, axes were not just used for cutting wood. They were also a symbol of power and rank. These axes were often ornately decorated, with swirling, knotted motifs and precious metal inlays.

Throughout the Viking period, axes came in different sizes and shapes. Their hafts (handles) could be up to 140cm long and the cutting edges of the blades could vary in size and form.

The axes were not only used for practical purposes but were also a prestigious status weapon in many parts of Europe, including Scandinavia and the Nordic countries. The axe became a symbol of power, rank and faith. It was even used as a religious symbol in Norway, where it was one of St Olaf's holy attributes.

Axes were found as ceremonial objects in a number of places, but the most significant examples come from Finland and Sweden. These axes are often found in late-Iron Age graves or in burial mounds where they are placed along the border between the living and the dead to mark the boundary.

Some axes were carved into decorative patterns, especially those made from gold. The axe head from Botnhamn (Ts 11937; see here) is a good example of this, with a grid to which gold was hammered into place.

Another type of axe head is a shaft-hole axe, where the axe head fits into a hole in the haft. This axe is not very common and was more likely to be a ceremonial object than a weapon.

These axes are similar to boat axes, except they do not have a flint blade. They are a type of stone axe that is associated with the Battle Axe culture in Europe, which occurred around 3200-1800 BC.

In some sagas, axes were thrown in fights as a last-ditch attempt to win a fight. For instance, in chapter 33 of Hardar saga og Holmverja, Sigurdr threw his axe at Thorvaldr and hit him in the head.

The axe head on this type of weapon was asymmetrically biased towards the toe, with the top edge slightly longer than the bottom. It also had a narrow neck that developed into a socket at the lower edge of the blade, and the bit was shaped like an arrowhead with a curved cutting edge and silver wire inlay in a wide array of scroll and linear patterns.
Axes as grave goods

Among the most common weapons found in Viking Age graves is an axe. They were commonly used as close-in weapons, requiring speed and skill to cut through helmets and armor. Axes were also often forged from very expensive metals such as iron and steel, making them extremely valuable.

Axes were a common weapon in both combat and non-combat situations, but they also served as tools and ceremonial objects. Some axes were engraved and inlaid with metal, while others were decorated with motifs from Norse mythology or Christian imagery.

For the warriors who could not afford a sword, an axe was the preferred weapon for hunting and fighting in battle. Swords were very expensive to manufacture, and so only the wealthy or powerful could own one.

The earliest known axes were made of wood, but many were later forged from iron or steel. These axes were more durable and less likely to split or rust than those made from oak, which was not as strong.

Archaeological finds of axes in Viking Age burials show that they were not just made for use during combat, but were also part of rituals associated with death and the afterlife. The axes may have been placed in the burial to ward off evil or to protect the dead and the living during certain rituals.

A viking axe buried in a male grave at the Haarup archaeological site in Denmark is richly decorated with engravings and inlaid with silver, niello and gold foil. It is believed to be a trophy or prestige weapon of a high-ranking Viking man.

Another axe buried in a female grave at Birka, Sweden is also engraved with silver and niello. It is thought to be a token of love and respect for a deceased family member.

The woman’s axe was engraved with images of birds and plants, probably representing Christian symbols such as the phoenix or the world ash tree Yggdrasil. The other side of the axe head features interlaced tendrils.

Some axes were crafted into polearms, and descriptions of these in the sagas suggest that they were a type of halberd. However, no halberds have been found in Viking burials, and they are unlikely to have been an important part of the funerary culture of the Vikings.