Spears and Lances  

Spears were used exclusively as throwing weapons, as their barbs made them difficult to pull out of a struck opponent. This severely impaired the victim’s ability to move and prevented the spear from being thrown back. Lance heads have no barbs. They were primarily used as thrusting weapons. Equipped with large, broad head, they were also suitable for slashing. Those with small, light heads could also be thrown. 

High-quality shafts  

The iron heads were mounted on wooden shafts. These were approximately 220–315 cm long. Their largest diameter is at the centre; toward the ends, they taper evenly—just like modern sports javelins. This shape improves the spears’ flight characteristics.   

The shafts were made of ash wood. They were split from logs, shaped into a round form, and the surface was carefully smoothed.  

 Location: Nydam bog  

 Material: Wood 

Specialized Tips  

Lances are ideal for quick, precise thrusts and cuts, as they can inflict significant damage with minimal effort. The different tip shapes are suited for opponents with varying armour: if the opponent is unarmoured, broad tips are particularly effective. If, on the other hand, the opponent is expected to be armoured, narrow tips are more suitable. This ensures there is a suitable weapon for every opponent.  

Location: Nydam bog 

Material: Iron