<P> As for defensive equipment, most Anglo - Saxon warriors only had access to shields . Pollington theorized that the shield was "perhaps the most culturally significant piece of defensive equipment" in Anglo - Saxon England, for the shield - wall would have symbolically represented the separation between the two sides on the battlefield . Smaller shields were lighter and easier to manoeuver, and therefore were best used in minor skirmishes and hand - to - hand combat . In contrast, larger shields were most commonly used in full - scale battles--they would have provided better protection from projectiles and were needed to construct a shield wall . </P> <P> In Old English, mail armour was referred to as byrne or hlenca . It is frequently referred to in late Anglo - Saxon literature, but few examples have been found archaeologically . The only known complete Anglo - Saxon mailcoat was discovered in the cemetery at Sutton Hoo in Suffolk, but it severely damaged by corrosion . Therefore, the scarcity of archaeological examples may simply be due to the widespread corrosion of mail . A completely intact coat of mail from the fourth or fifth century, similar to those which were probably utilized in Anglo - Saxon England, was found in Vimose, Denmark . </P> <P> The coat of mail found at Sutton Hoo comprised iron rings 8 mm (0.31 in) in diameter . Some rings were filled in with copper rivets, indicating that the coat was made of alternate rows of riveted and forged rings . When worn, the coat probably extended to the hip . The manufacture of a mailcoat would have first required the production of a thin metal wire, via swaging or drawing . The wire was then tightly coiled around a circular ring approximately 10 mm (0.39 in) in diameter . The smith would then chisel any individual circuits off the rod, reheat it, and anneal it . Finally, the rings were joined together and closed using welding and riveting . Following construction, the coat was case hardened by being packed in charcoal and subsequently reheated, so that some carbon could transfer to the metal's outer face . </P> <P> Mail would have greatly protected a warrior in battles by reducing the impact of enemy blows, and therefore those who wore mail had a significant advantage over opponents who did not . They were particularly effective against cuts by a sword or axe, since the impact was absorbed and distributed across the many rings . However, mail was less effective at preventing spear injuries--the concentrated force of spears could break a few links and allow the spear to enter the body, sometimes causing the rings to enter with it . Mailcoats added a great deal of weight to the warrior and made mobility more difficult; therefore, wearers of mailcoats were greatly disadvantaged in skirmishes and fast - moving battle lines . Mail also rusted easily, and had to be maintained as a result . </P>

How did the anglo saxons make their weapons