Recently, I came across several early medieval awls in publications and on the Internet, which aroused my interest in writing a shorter article. I would like to dedicate it to all craft-oriented readers of this site.
I do not want to create an overview of all the tools we have available from early medieval Europe. Instead, I want to cover the basic characteristics and construction, taking into account the Scandinavian material. Awl is one of the tools that has not changed much in history. As for the early medieval awls, it is thought that they could have been used to punch wood, leather, fur and textiles Petersen : ; Saggau : It could also be used for engraving bone, antler, amber and other materials.
Awls are commonly found in male and female graves and settlements. The needles of early medieval awls are relatively uniform, although we can define several types. The first and most common type is a needle with two points and an enlarged central part with a square or flattened cross-section. The second and less common type is an asymmetrical needle with a much thinner tang. The third type is represented by a curved awl.
Awl of the first type usually have a circular, oval, rectangular or diamond cross-section diamond cross-section is perfect for working with leather because it does not tear it and usually have a diameter of mm. In the case of preserved awls, the central part of rectangular or flattened cross-section fits snugly on the handle and it apparently acts as a stop to keep the needle from driving deeper into the wood.
In addition to the shape, the length of the needles can also vary, which is also adapted to work with a specific material.
