MEDIEVAL ARROWHEADS DATABASE
Thank you for the 1900 hits
In this post we will present a collection of Medieval Arrowheads taken from museum collections- private visits or internet sources, but also and most importantly, from auctions and private collections from around the world. The period that we are interested is from the 8th to 16th century CE.
Arrowheads which are presented at auctions and in private collections are unique, in the sense that they are appearing for a short time on the net before they disappear again. Where possible we try to retain this information for the benefit of historical research.
Arrowheads which are presented at auctions and in private collections are unique, in the sense that they are appearing for a short time on the net before they disappear again. Where possible we try to retain this information for the benefit of historical research.
We have tried to provide the most accurate information for each item and respect the copyrights of different individuals and museums and we apologise in advance if our info or the credits given are maybe not correct sometimes. We are open to corrections and opinions.
Very often there are groups of arrowheads from different ages and geographical areas.
Very often there are groups of arrowheads from different ages and geographical areas.
This collection will be updated periodically with new finds.
Last update 20/12/17
Last update 20/12/17
Total images: 91 ( Photographs 86 - Drawings 5 )
Royal armouries
A large number of arrow and crossbow bolt heads. 14th-17th CE
A large number of arrow and crossbow bolt heads. 14th-17th CE
1400-1499 CE. Large broad head with incurving crescentic barbs, much corroded.
Overall length: 112 mm (4.4 in.) Weight: 1 oz.-Europe
Royal Armouries
1400-1499 CE. Very large broad head with straight barbs.
Overall length: 113 mm (4.4 in.) Weight: .2 oz, Europe
Royal Armouries
1400-1499 CE, Broad head with long, straight, thin barbs, a long slender neck and socket.
Overall length: 69 mm (2.95 in.) Weight: 0.33 oz. - Europe
Royal Armouries
1400-1499 CE, In excavated condition, including a number of swallow tail form; one with a near pyramidal tip and tapering tang; another for stunning game; and seven with small pyramidal tips with tapering tangs. The group also includes several of the important military type 16 form.
England
Royal Armouries
1400-1499 CE, Of square section with socket. Dimensions: Overall length: 77 mm (3.1 in.) Weight: 0.25 oz - Europe
Royal Armouries
1400 -1499 CE, Large bodkin head of square section with socket.
Overall length: 103 mm (4.1 in.) Weight: 7g (0.25 oz.)- Europe
Royal Armouries
1400- 1499 CE, Medium bodkin head of square section with socket.
Dimensions: Overall length: 77 mm (3.1 in.) Weight: 0.25 oz. - Europe
Royal Armouries
1400-1499 CE, Dimensions: Overall length: 65 mm (2.25 in
Royal Armouries
1500 - 1599 CE, Made of iron found in a 16th/17th century context at Queenhithe
England
Royal Armouries
In excavated condition, including a number of swallow tail form; one with a near pyramidal tip and tapering tang; another for stunning game; and seven with small pyramidal tips with tapering tangs. The group also includes several of the important military type 16 form.
The Hundred Years' War
Royal Armouries
Broadheads, European, 15th CE
Broadheads were used in peacetime for hunting large game because of their ability to cause large, disabling wounds. In war they were used against horses and unarmoured men. (Museum description ). — at https://royalarmouries.org/leeds/
Broadheads were used in peacetime for hunting large game because of their ability to cause large, disabling wounds. In war they were used against horses and unarmoured men. (Museum description ). — at https://royalarmouries.org/leeds/
Bodkin heads, European, 15th CE
The long, armour-piercing bodkin head was the typical military arroehead of the Hundred Years War. They had originally been developed to pierce mail, but later proved more effective than other types against plate armours. (Museum description). — at https://royalarmouries.org/leeds/
The long, armour-piercing bodkin head was the typical military arroehead of the Hundred Years War. They had originally been developed to pierce mail, but later proved more effective than other types against plate armours. (Museum description). — at https://royalarmouries.org/leeds/
Types of Bodkin heads, European, 15th CE — at https://royalarmouries.org/leeds/
14th-15th century CE. Great iron arrowhead.
Two-bladed, socketed type. 79 mm (3 1/8") long. Auction.
Medieval iron arrowhead 14th-15th century CE.
Found at the site of the 1432 attack on Coburg Castle in Germany. Long 82 mm (3 1/4") with sleek form. Auction.
14th to 16th Century Iron arrowhead / crossbow bolt.
XII mark.
Medieval Europe, 13th-15th century CE. Nice iron crossbow-bolt. Found at the site of a Medieval Austro-Hungarian battlefield in former Czechoslovakia, central Europe. 61 mm (2 3/8"). Auction.
Medieval Europe, 13th-15th century CE. Beautiful long iron crossbow-bolt. Found at the site of a Medieval Austro-Hungarian battlefield in former Czechoslovakia, central Europe. 94 mm
(3 5/8"). Auction.
12th-15th century CE
A mixed group of iron socketted swallowtail arrowheads, two with tips curled over after impact. 57 grams total, 53-63mm (2 - 2 1/2"). Auction
MEDIEVAL IRON FIRE ARROWHEAD
Circa 14th century CE. A socketted arrowhead with lozengiform blade, the centre with a vesica-shaped void. Iron, 21.9 grams, 125.7 mm. Slight loss to base of socket. Auction
MEDIEVAL IRON FIRE ARROWHEAD
Circa 12th-15th century CE. A hand-forged iron arrowhead with bodkin point, bulb and four-bar cage developing into the closed socket. Iron, 33 grams, 13 cm. Auction.
Medieval fire head from Lund, Sweden on display at Kulturen museum in Lund.
Found 1985 at Königstein Castle, Taunus, Germany. Around 13th-14th century.
Contribution :
Christoph Vogler
MEDIEVAL IRON ARROWHEAD GROUP WITH DISPLAY CASE
14th-15th century CE.
A mixed group of iron arrowheads, each with socket to receive the shaft and with broad, heavily barbed heads; two with twisted shafts; 180 grams total, 9-11.5 cm (3 1/3 - 4 1/2"). Auction
MEDIEVAL ARROWHEAD COLLECTION
12th-15th century CE
A mixed group of iron arrowheads comprising: one triangular-section, tanged; one leaf-shaped, tanged; one triangular, tanged; one chisel-ended, tanged; two triangular, socketted; one swallowtail, socketted. 110 grams total, 6.5-12.5cm (2 3/4 - 5"). Auction
12th-15th century CE
A mixed group of iron swallowtail arrowheads with tapering sockets, one with twisted shank. 50-100mm (2 - 4"). Auction.
MEDIEVAL ARROWHEAD GROUP
12th-15th century CE
A mixed group of iron arrowheads comprising: one leaf-shaped, tanged; one leaf-shaped, split socket; one chisel-shaped, tanged; one bodkin, tanged; one swallowtail with twisted shank, split socket. 9-11cm (3 3/4 - 4 1/4"). Auction.
MEDIEVAL ARROWHEAD COLLECTION
12th-15th century CE
A group of ten iron arrowheads of varying designs including, seven leaf-shaped and three barbed and tanged. 6.5-11cm (2 1/2 - 4 1/4"). Auction.
MEDIEVAL ARROWHEAD COLLECTION
12th-15th century CE
A group of ten iron leaf-shaped arrowheads with sockets or tangs to the base.
6.5-10.5cm (2 1/2 - 4 1/4"). Auction
MEDIEVAL ARROWHEAD COLLECTION
12th-15th century CE
A group of ten iron arrowheads, one barbed and tanged with socket to base; nine leaf-shaped with tang to base. 4.5-14.5cm (1 3/4 - 5 3/4"). Auction.
MEDIEVAL ARROWHEAD COLLECTION
12th-15th century CE
A group of iron arrowheads comprising two barbed and tanged, one with socket; eight leaf-shaped all with tangs to the base. 5-12.5cm (2 - 5"). Auction.
MEDIEVAL CHAIN MAIL AND ARROWHEAD COLLECTION
12th-15th century CE
A group of thirty iron leaf, barbed and tanged arrowheads, some socketed; an iron chain mail coat of linked rings. 5-24cm (2 - 9 1/2"). Auction.
MEDIEVAL ARROWHEAD COLLECTION
10th-15th century CE
A mixed iron group comprising: four tanged arrowheads with leaf-shaped blades; two square-section tanged quarrel heads; two square-section socketted quarrel heads; a socketted arrowhead with twisted neck; a leaf-shaped socketted arrowhead. 45-88mm (1 3/4 - 3 1/2"). Auction.
Medieval Iron Arrowhead Group 13th-15th century CE. A mixed group of hand-forged iron arrowheads comprising: one triangular-section, tanged; three barbed and socketed; one swallowtail with twisted shank, tanged. 79-108 mm (3 1/4 - 4 1/4"). [5, No Reserve] Auction.
Westminster Abbey arrowhead. Copyright of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster Abbey.
Large English Medieval 'Swallow Tail' Iron Arrow Head Circa: 14th - 15th Century CE
The arrow head itself measures 5 cm to the flat arrow point and from tang to tang. The shaft is of rolled iron and measures 6.1 cm. The total length of the arrow head is 9.6 cm
” and has a weight of 27.45 grams. Private collection
Medieval Crusades iron arrowheads - approx. 8.5/10.3 cm (3) Material: iron, with a black patina
Medieval, 11th / 13th century CE.
Origin: Breton (France).
Arrowheads
Material: iron
Date: 10th - 13th century CE. Size: 14 cm, 13 cm
13th-15th century CE
A mixed group of arrowheads comprising: one small triangular-section, tanged; one longer triangular-section, tanged, pierced for attachment of textile thongs; one large triangular with tang; a swallowtail with short tang; a socketed broadhead. 63-135mm (2 1/2 - 5 1/4"). Auction
Found at London Bridge Thameslink Programme station rebuild.
Unclassified.
MEDIEVAL LARGE ARROWHEAD PAIR
12th-15th century CE
A pair of iron arrowheads, one of swallowtail form with twisted shank and round-section tang, the other with three triangular points and tapering tang. Auction.
9th-13th century CE. Incredible small iron spearhead or very large arrowhead. Long, sharp blade and socketed base. Measures 97 mm (3 7/8 inches). Found near the Danube River, Eastern Europe. Auction.
National Trust collection.
Arrowhead, iron
An iron arrowhead of an early type with marked shoulders but also is centrally ridged. 13th century. On loan courtesy of National Museums Scotland.
Dimensions 80 x 28 x 8mm
Urquhart Castle.
MEDIEVAL IRON ARROWHEAD COLLECTION
12th-15th century CE
A mixed group of hand-forged iron arrowheads comprising: one broad swallowtail, socketted; two three-flanged fire-arrows, tanged; one rope cutter, tanged with forked head. 5-11.5 cm (2 - 4 1/2"). Auction.
Museum of London
Arrowhead with imperfect tang and long tapering lozenge-shaped (or narrow, leaf-shaped) blade - type 17.
Medieval; 13th-14th century?
Museum of London
Arrowhead with socket and 3-sided head - type 11.
Late Medieval; 14th-15th century
Museum of London
Arrowhead with socket and 3-sided barbed head, barbs curving reverse ways - type 13. The tip is broken.
Medieval; 13th-14th century
Museum of London
Arrowhead with socket and angled head -type 5.
Late Medieval; 14th-15th century
Museum of London A
Arrowhead with lanceolate blade and slender tang - possibly type 19.
Late Medieval; 14th century?
Museum of London.
Late Medieval; 14th-15th century
Museum of London Barbed arrowhead.
Late Medieval; 14th-15th century
Museum of London
Arrowhead with slender tang - type 18.
early 16th century-late 16th century
Museum of London
Arrowhead with leaf-shaped blade and solid tang - type 17.
Medieval; 13th-14th century
Museum of London Arrowhead with lozenge blade and slender, pierced socket -type 1.
Early Medieval
Museum of London
Iron arrowhead, socketed with vestigial barbs.
Medieval; 13th-14th century
BRITISH MUSEUM
ARROWHEAD
An iron arrowhead of probable Medieval date. It is triangular in form with slight mid ribs and narrow barbs that taper close to the integral socket. The socket itself is circular in section, flaring towards the attachment end. This arrowhead measures 68.86mm in length, 16.47mm in width, 9.58mm in thickness/diameter at socket (3.54mm in thickness at blade), and 10.62g in weight. Types 14-15.
These barbed and tanged arrowheads are dated to the Medieval period, c.13th-14th centuries CE, and suggest a similar date range for the current example.
BRITISH MUSEUM ARROWHEAD
Forged iron arrowhead length 61mm, width 11mm, thickness 9mm, weight 13.04g. The head is short (23mm long)and thing with a diamond cross-section. The socket projects from the bottom and is complete the mouth of the socket is 9mm in diameter. is artefacts is in excellent preservation with very little corrosion on the surface
This arrowhead is of a style called a bodkin and was used in the 13th-15th century. This is a specialised form that was developed for use in warfare and was designed to be strong and slender in order to punch holes in to plate armour.
BRITISH MUSEUM
Object type: ARROWHEAD
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Suffolk
An iron arrowhead with a socketed incomplete shaft and a triangular head. These are believed to be military or hunting arrows and are late 13th-14th century in date. This example measures 44.27mm in length and 17.46mm in width.
Medieval iron pointed arrowhead; material - iron; 12-14 th CE. Added 20/12/17
BRITISH MUSEUM
ARROWHEAD
A complete cast iron arrowhead (length: 72mm; width: 19.5mm; thickness (at widest point in socket): 9mm; weight: 14.80g) except for the tip being slightly broken. A triangular blade (length: 35mm) with a diamond cross-section. The socket is complete (length: 37mm) and expands to a larger diameter of 9mm at the bottom. There also seems to be material lodged inside the cavity of the socket which could possibly be wood.
Similar examples have been found particularly at castle excavations including Goltho Manor (11th century), Castle Acre (12th century) as well as Rumney Castle and Bramber Castle (13th/ 14th century). Jessop suggests that these arrowheads were mainly used for hunting and span a wide date range from the 11th-15th centuries.
The overall condition of the arrowhead is fair. It only has slight corrosion, particularly on the blade, and has a dark brown patina.
BRITISH MUSEUM
ARROWHEAD
An incomplete wrought iron tanged arrowhead of Medieval dating (12th to 13th Centuries CE).
The arrowhead has a triangular blade, with a lentoid cross section. The tang is circular sectioned and incomplete.
The arrowhead is a mid brown colour, with an uneven surface patina. Abrasion, caused by movement whilst within the plough soil, has resulted in a loss of surface detail. There is minimal surface corrosion product (rust) present.
The arrowhead measures 42.14mm in length, 11.25mm wide and 7.79mm thick. It weighs 5.3 grams.
Tanged arrowheads are earlier in date than socketed arrowheads, requiring less technological skill to manufacture than their socketed counterparts. This example fits with the characteristics of Type T3 as described by Jessop (1996, p.195) and was dated to 12th to 13th Centuries CE.
BRITISH MUSEUM
Object type: ARROWHEAD
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Oxfordshire
A cast iron medieval 'forker' arrowhead. These forked arrowhead were used for hunting birds throughout the medieval period, and are actually quite a rare find, especially complete as this example is. The arrowhead has a circular socket that has suffered only minor damage. Arrowheads are very hard to date as many forms were in use for several hundred years - this example dates from the 11th to 16th centuries. The arrowhead measures 62.16mm long, the widest point between the forks is 39.00mm and the maximum diameter of the socket is 14.65mm. It weighs 15.2gms.
BRITISH MUSEUM
ARROWHEAD
Pyramidal end 'bodkin' type conical folded collar which is circular in section
This record was created before the Portable Antiquities Scheme began using the Central Database. We are aware that this record may fall below our usual standards of recording, and we are working to rectify this.
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Date from: AD 1066
Date to: AD 1540
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 56.08 mm
Weight: 16.1 g
Diameter: 12.66 mm
BRITISH MUSEUM
Object type: ARROWHEAD
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: East Sussex
Iron arrow, large 'broadhead' hunting arrow of Jessops type H3 which he dates to the mid-13th century AD. The arrow has a roughly triangular plan with the point curving in slightly. The point has a flat pointed oval cross section and there are extended, triangular cross sectioned, barbs. One barb is probably complete and straightens at the end, the other is broken about two thirds of the way down. The socket is solid, circular at appears to be broken at the end. It is 92.5mm long, 57.9mm wide and 11.6mm thick; it weighs 36.59 grams.
BRITISH MUSEUM
ARROWHEAD
Medieval iron broadhead arrow, missing the tips of its barbs which would have originally reached below the bottom of the socket. It is 75.8mm in length and max.44.9mm in width. It weighs 23.26g.
The socket is slightly damaged at the open end and runs to the tip. At the open end it is 11.8mm in diameter (internal 7.3m) and narrows to 7mm just below where the head starts.
Broadhead arrows were used primarily for hunting, being so large they would cause considerable damage to an animal and weaken it through loss of blood. They were also used in war especially between the 11th-13th century.
Medieval/Crusades Europe, c. 12th-13th century CE. Iron long-bow arrowhead. Socketed type with barbed point. 54 mm (2 1/8") long. ex-Indianapolis, IN museum collection. Auction.
11th/13th century - European
Medieval, iron arrowhead and fire lighter.
Date:11th/13th century CE.
Size: 12 cm x 6 cm.
Origine: European. Auction.
11th/13th century CE. Flanders and Brabant Netherlands
Material: iron, with a black patina
Dating: Medieval, 11/13th century
Provenance: Flanders and Brabant Netherlands
10th-11th CE
65mm x 34mm
Unclassified
Crusades / Medieval Europe, c. 1198 - 1375 CE. Excellent large bronze arrowhead found in Armenia. Two barbed blades with raised central midriff and long squared tang. 75 mm (3") long! Olive-green patina with earthen deposits. Still very sharp! Auction.
Crusades / Medieval Europe, c. 1198 - 1375 CE. Excellent large bronze long-bow arrowhead found in Armenia. Two barbed blades with raised central midriff and long squared tang. 80 mm (3 1/8") long! Olive-green patina with earthen deposits. Auction.
Azincourt Museum, France.
MEDIEVAL IRON BARBED ARROWHEAD
Circa 12th-13th century CE. A barbed and socketed arrowhead of lentoid section; the socket pierced to accept a securing rivet. 22 grams, 75 mm. Auction.
BRITISH MUSEUM
ARROWHEAD
Three iron tanged and barbed arrowheads of medieval date. Each arrowhead has suffered some damage to the barbs with only one example retaining any length of a barb. Each arrowhead has a long, slender and tapering tang, a triat usually seen in European arrowheads, unlike the English arrowheads which were usually socketed. Small barbed arrowheads could be used for hunting game, as they were designed to remain inside the body of the prey, but they were also firmly fixed into the arrow shaft so that the could be removed from the prey and reused. The location of these finds suggests that these were indeed used for hunting; Snelsmore Common became such in the medieval period. General 'high' medieval date of .c 1200-1450 AD.
The best surviving arrowhead (with barb intact) has a head that measures 53.6mm long x 10.3mm wide x 3.2mm thick. The tang is broadly square in plan and section and measures 123.1mm long and 3.4mm thick. This example weighs 8.6 grams. All of the arrowheads are of much the same size and length.
Medieval Germany, 10th century CE. Huge and impressive spear-tip or arrowhead. Intact with huge barbs and long socketed bodt, with a corkscrew-shaped twist at the top designed to break off when the weapon penetrated its target. 77 mm (3") long! Auction
Medieval arrow-head, 10th century CE. Made of iron with long 2-barbed swallowtail head and socketed shaft. 60 mm (2 3/8") long. Found at an ancient battle site near the Danube River, Eastern Europe. Auction.
Medieval iron swallowtail arrowhead
Period: 10th-13th century
Medieval hand forged iron swallowtail arrowhead with twisted socket. Auction.
Length: 69 mm
Weight: 7,84 g
Medieval arrow-head, 10th century CE. Made of iron with long 2-barbed swallowtail head and wide socketed neck. 113 mm (4 1/2"). Found at an ancient battle site near the Danube River, Eastern Europe. Auction.
Medieval arrow-head, 10th century CE. Made of iron with long 2-barbed swallowtail head and wide socketed neck. 82 mm (3 1/4"). Found at an ancient battle site near the Danube River, Eastern Europe. Auction.
Fantastic Medieval longbow arrow-head, 10th - 13th century CE. Made of iron with long 2-barbed swallowtail head and wide socketed neck. 62 mm (2 3/8"). Nicely preserved with good surfaces, blades slightly bent. Found at an ancient battle site near the Danube River, Eastern Europe. ex-Clearwater, FL collection. Added 20/12/17
Fantastic Medieval longbow arrow-head, 10th - 13th century CE. Made of iron with long 2-barbed swallowtail head and socketed neck. The metal shaft with a spiral twist just behind the point, intended to break upon impact rendering it useless as return ammunition. L: 74 mm (2 7/8"). Nicely preserved with good surfaces. ex-London, UK gallery. Added 20/12/17
Fantastic Medieval longbow arrow-head, 10th century CE. Made of iron with long 2-barbed swallowtail head and wide socketed neck. The metal shaft with a spiral twist just behind the point, intended to break upon impact rendering it useless as return ammunition. 82 mm (3 1/4"). Nicely preserved with good surfaces. Found at an ancient battle site near the Danube River, Eastern Europe. ex-Clearwater, FL collection. Added 20/12/17
Fantastic Medieval longbow arrow-head, 8th-10th century CE. Made of iron with long 2-barbed swallowtail head and socketed neck. The metal shaft with a spiral twist just behind the point, intended to break upon impact rendering it useless as return ammunition. L: 106 mm (4 1/8"), excellent state of preservation and still sharp! Ex-Clearwater, FL collection. Added 20/12/17
Fantastic Medieval longbow arrow-head, 8th-10th century CE. Made of iron with long 2-barbed swallowtail head and socketed neck. L: 11 cm (4 3/8"), excellent state of preservation and still sharp! Ex-Clearwater, FL collection. Added 20/12/17
LINKS
THE MUSEUM OF LONDON TYPE 16 ARROWHEAD
Medieval Arrowheads from Oxfordshire
Richard Wadge
http://oxoniensia.org/volumes/2008/wadge.pdf
THE ROYAL ARMOURIES MUSEUM / LEEDS
https://royalarmouries.org/leeds/
THE ROYAL ARMOURIES MUSEUM / LEEDS
https://royalarmouries.org/leeds/
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