What were Viking shield made of?
wood
It is believed that the Viking shield was made up of primarily wood, typically linden wood, with a bowl shaped metal ‘boss’ made of iron behind at the centre. This boss helped to provide protection for the warrior’s hand and ensured better manoeuvrability for battle.
Did Vikings really use shield walls?
According to Rolf Warming, an archaeologist and researcher at the University of Copenhagen, the Vikings did not use shield walls in combat. A typical Viking shield was relatively small and light, and used as an active weapon.
What were Viking shields called?
rönd
A Viking’s primary defensive weapon was the shield. Because it was round, it was called rönd. Shields were about a yard across. Only the buckle and the rim was made of iron.
What did Vikings use to protect themselves in battle?
In the Viking Age a number of different types of weapons were used: swords, axes, bows and arrows, lances and spears. The Vikings also used various aids to protect themselves in combat: shields, helmets and chain mail. The weapons that Vikings possessed depended on their economic capacity.
Why were Viking shields so good?
preventing them soaking up water and becoming heavier. It is thought that a leather covered Viking shield weighed between 7kg and 10kg. deflect attacks, push attacks offline and spread the shock of a blow. The Viking shield protected most of a warrior’s body, leaving only the head and legs exposed.
Did Vikings use phalanx?
The Viking shield wall (or skjaldborg in Old Norse) was a pretty conventional tactic used by the Norsemen in land battles. It entailed a phalanx-like formation of warriors who were up to five ranks deep.
Did Vikings use two handed axes?
Axe. The most common hand weapon among Vikings was the axe – swords were more expensive to make and only wealthy warriors could afford them. The double-bitted axes depicted in modern “Viking” art would have been very rare as it used more material and was seen as a waste during hard times, if they existed at all.
Did Viking shields have metal rims?
The metal boss, attached to the wooden part of the shield by nails, protected the hand. Viking shields were rimmed with leather or rawhide. Some shields may have had iron rims, but there isn’t much archaeological evidence to support this.
