Botfus the Gute and the Production of Viking Age Weapons on Gotland

Abstract

The paper scrutinizes evidence for the local production of weapons on Gotland during the Viking Age. Attention is paid to semi-finished pieces of sword hilts as well as a unique spearhead with a runic inscription discovered at Svenskens on Gotland. The spearhead is discussed from typological, chronological, decorative and epigraphical points of view. On the basis of the analysis a new dating is suggested for the inscription in short-twig runes. The results underline the importance of Gotland in the production and export of weaponry during the Viking Age.