Viking shields

The type of shield used by the Vikings can be traced back to the Iron Age. It consists of thin planking, which forms a circular shape. In the middle is a dome of iron to protect the shield bearer’s hand. This is called the shield boss and is often the only part which is preserved after 1000 years in the ground. The date of a shield can be established from the form of the shield boss, which varied throughout the Iron Age and the Viking period. Shield bosses are often found in graves, in which shields accompanied the dead on their final journey.

The shields are relatively thin, and research has shown that they would split easily when struck with arrows, axes and swords. It is therefore thought that they were originally covered with animal skin, which shrinks slightly when it dries out, thus increasing the strength of the shields. The addition of animal skin also meant that the shields were less lightly to split, and thus relatively thin pieces of wood could be used to keep their weight down.

We are also familiar with Viking shields from the art of the period. Various picture stones from the island of Gotland show armed warriors with shields that appear to be painted. Some of the small, valkyrie figures also carry decorated shields.