Spearheads, type F
According to: Lena Thålin-Bergman, "Übersicht der Speerspitzen von Birka" (In: Greta Arwidsson (ed.) Birka II: 2. Systematische Analysen der Gráberfunde. Stockholm: Almqvist & Wiksell, 1986, 17)
Only one spearhead, Bj. 624, has all the characteristics of Petersen's Type F, with a very long and slender socket, half-length decorated with groups of narrow beads. Transitional forms exist between this type and Type I (see Bj 727, 832:1 and 842:1 under Type I). Bj. 624 has the longest socket on all Birka spearheads. The neck is narrow, the spout opening medium wide. This spearhead also has the widest blade that occurs in Birka. The radiograph shows that the blades are welded with a rounded weld joint from the cutting edge.
Bj. 624
According to: Lena Thålin-Bergman, "Übersicht der Speerspitzen von Birka" (In: Greta Arwidsson (ed.) Birka II: 2. Systematische Analysen der Gráberfunde. Stockholm: Almqvist & Wiksell, 1986, 17, 19)
Only one spearhead, Bj. 624, has all the characteristics of Petersen's Type F, with a very long and slender socket, half-length decorated with groups of narrow beads. Transitional forms exist between this type and Type I (see Bj 727, 832:1 and 842:1 under Type I). Bj. 624 has the longest socket on all Birka spearheads. The neck is narrow, the spout opening medium wide. This spearhead also has the widest blade that occurs in Birka. The radiograph shows that the blades are welded with a rounded weld joint from the cutting edge.
Type: F
Length: 490 mm
Width: 56 mm
Socket length: 77 mm
Socket dimater: 33 x 30 mm
Spearheads type I, with transitional forms between F and I.
According to: Lena Thålin-Bergman, "Übersicht der Speerspitzen von Birka" (In: Greta Arwidsson (ed.) Birka II: 2. Systematische Analysen der Gráberfunde. Stockholm: Almqvist & Wiksell, 1986, 17-18)
The spearheads of this kind are in graves Bj 581: 1-2, 644, 703, 731, 832:1, 842:1 and 955. According to Petersen, the continuous rivets in the relatively long socket are characteristic of this type. The socket size, as well as the size of the spearheads, varies quite strongly in Birka in type I. For example, Bj 581:2 and 644 are quite short and light, weighing around 100g, while the rest are much bigger and heavier, and their blades are wider. This is particularly true of Bj 703, a tip that also differs in construction from the rest, partly by the unusually wide kerf, partly by the fact that the rivets are not transversely, but are hammered from both sides, so that their ends inside of the shaft overlap. The Type I served as a model here, but one did not use the usual technique. The tip from Bj 955, too, is very strong, with some narrow grooves at the neck, suggesting that it was originally swapped, probably in the same way as Bj 644 and 731.
More elegant examples appear at Bj 644 and 731, both wearing a copper and silver twisted wire wound in thin rings around the neck, top with an angle motif as a conclusion. The socket diameter is very narrow.
According to Petersen, type I generally has eleven or more rivets, but in Birka this is only the case with Bj. 731, otherwise their number varies up to five rivets (Bj. 644).
Four spearheads, type I with bronze rivets, also have the characteristic of type F trait, namely groups of narrow beads following the rivets. This is the glit from the tips of the tombs Bj 703, 736, 832: 1 and 832: 2.
Bj. 703
According to: Lena Thålin-Bergman, "Übersicht der Speerspitzen von Birka" (In: Greta Arwidsson (ed.) Birka II: 2. Systematische Analysen der Gráberfunde. Stockholm: Almqvist & Wiksell, 1986, 19)
Type: F-I
Length: 485 mm
Width: 40 mm
Socket lenght: 130 mm
Socket diameter: 22 x 23mm
Bj. 736
According to: Lena Thålin-Bergman, "Übersicht der Speerspitzen von Birka" (In: Greta Arwidsson (ed.) Birka II: 2. Systematische Analysen der Gráberfunde. Stockholm: Almqvist & Wiksell, 1986, 19)
Lenght: 480 mm
Width: 45 mm
Socket lenght: 65 mm
Bj. 832:1
According to: Lena Thålin-Bergman, "Übersicht der Speerspitzen von Birka" (In: Greta Arwidsson (ed.) Birka II: 2. Systematische Analysen der Gráberfunde. Stockholm: Almqvist & Wiksell, 1986, 19)
Type: F-I
Length: 480 mm
Width: 45 mm
Socket lenght: 117 mm
Socket diameter: 22 x 22mm
Bj. 842:1
According to: Lena Thålin-Bergman, "Übersicht der Speerspitzen von Birka" (In: Greta Arwidsson (ed.) Birka II: 2. Systematische Analysen der Gráberfunde. Stockholm: Almqvist & Wiksell, 1986, 19)
Type: F-I
Length: 548 mm
Width: 30 mm
Socket lenght: 140 mm
Bj: 581:1
According to: Lena Thålin-Bergman, "Übersicht der Speerspitzen von Birka" (In: Greta Arwidsson (ed.) Birka II: 2. Systematische Analysen der Gráberfunde. Stockholm: Almqvist & Wiksell, 1986, 19)
Type: I
Length: 340 mm
Width: 19 mm
Socket lenght: 123 mm
Socket diameter: 14 x 15 mm
Bj. 581:2
According to: Lena Thålin-Bergman, "Übersicht der Speerspitzen von Birka" (In: Greta Arwidsson (ed.) Birka II: 2. Systematische Analysen der Gráberfunde. Stockholm: Almqvist & Wiksell, 1986, 19)
Type: I
Length: 405 mm
Width: 23 mm
Socket length: 125 mm
Bj. 644
According to: Lena Thålin-Bergman, "Übersicht der Speerspitzen von Birka" (In: Greta Arwidsson (ed.) Birka II: 2. Systematische Analysen der Gráberfunde. Stockholm: Almqvist & Wiksell, 1986, 19)
Type: I
Length: 340 mm
Width: 21 mm
Socket length: 125 mm
Socket diameter: 17 x 18 mm
Bj. 731
According to the museum website:
Fragmentary spearhead with decorations of copper and silver on the socket. The socket has been attached to the shaft with 11 or 12 bronze rivets. Mineralized shaft residues quartzite inside.
Bj. 955
According to: Lena Thålin-Bergman, "Übersicht der Speerspitzen von Birka" (In: Greta Arwidsson (ed.) Birka II: 2. Systematische Analysen der Gráberfunde. Stockholm: Almqvist & Wiksell, 1986, 19)
Type: I
Lenght: 532 mm
Width: 33mm
Socket lenght: 160 mm
Socket diameter: 18 x 19 mm
