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Ancient Northern European Axes
Ancient Northern European Axes
02
ANCIENT NORTHERN EUROPEAN AXES
GRÄNSFORS BRUK
ISBN 91-972266-4-5
© Gränsfors Bruks AB 2005
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The hatchets had short hand- Parts of The Bayeux Tapestry* illus- *The Bayeux Tapestry is approximately 70 meters in length (231 feet). It is embroidered in clear colours with scenes
trate that the axe was frequently used that depict the preparations for battle and the Battle of Hastings, 1066. The tapestry, woven in the 11th century, is
les and the axe head seldom weighed
as a utility tool for felling trees and preserved in the town of Bayeux in the west of France.
more than 600 grams. Because of its size, boat construction. **Skiftesverksystemet denotes a type of house-building technique characterized by horizontal planks placed one on
top of the other.
***Clinker-built is a term used in boat building. In wooden boats, external planks overlap downwards.
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It would be Production of
quite wrong the thin-bladed
to describe the battle axe
smiths’ crafts- began in the
manship during 10th century,
the Viking Age and during the
as primitive. On Viking Age
the contrary, the these weapons
methods used to became the
produce axes and other tools were well- The battle axe was frequently used seen in the Bayeux Tapestry’s depiction height of fashion. In all probability, axes
developed. The axes were often distinctly in great battles, which can be clearly of the Battle of Hastings, 1066. were used in battles in Northern Europe
wedge-shaped, functional and had a long after the Viking Age had ended.
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The broad axe was first and foremost a The bearded axe with its eye-socket was developed
tool used for woodworking, such as in from the two-lugged axe type and was used for
cutting and smoothing planks for house timbering and splitting logs. It was probably also
and boat construction. used for carpentry.
This replica, forged by hand, is based on This replica, forged by hand, is based on a number
an original from the 11th century. The of similar axe types from the early Middle Ages.
original axe is on display at the Viking
Museum in Roskilde, Denmark.
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