Circa 900 - 1000 AD A hand-forged iron axe head with substantial curved blade and elliptical shaft-hole. The profile is square at the lower edge, in the classic skeggöx or 'bearded' profile used as both a weapon and as a grappling iron during naval battles. Reference: Leppäaho, H. Späteisenzeitliche Waffen aus Finnland, Helsinki, 1964 plate 62(2). Axes were commonly used within the Viking communities, almost everything was formed of wood making it unsurprising that many axes existed for constructing ships, houses, carts, as well as other objects. The axe was also one of the choice weapons of the battlefield due to its light weight. Size: L:132mm / W:74mm ; 372g. Provenance: From a private collection; previously was acquired from G. M. in London in 2017.