Viking Age Iron Long Bearded Axehead
Circa 10th-12th century A.D.. With broad curved blade and short spur beneath the chin, narrow neck, deep socket with extended edge to the reverse. Cf. Arbman, H., Birka I: Die Gräber, Uppsala, 1940, pl.14, item 3; Kirpichnikov, A.N., Drevnerusskoe Oruzie, II, Moscow-Leningrad, 1966, in Arkheologiia SSSR, vol. E1-36, especially axes nos.1,5, from ???????? and ??????? (pl.XIII), and no.6 (pl.XXII) from ?????? ????; Sedov, B.B., Finno-Ugri i Balti v Epokhi Srednevekovija, Moscow, 1987, pl V, items 16, 17, 20; pl.CXXIV, item 1. 740 grams, 18 cm (7 1/8 in.).

From the collection of a Californian, USA, gentleman, dating back to the late 1960s.

The axe seems to be a variation of type IV of the Kirpichnikov classification of the Eastern Rus Axes typology. These axes appeared in the 10th century, and continued in the 10th-11th century. [No Reserve]