
I developed the North Ireland Battlefield Database and also the Defence Heritage Database for NIEA which are used to inform archaeological mitigation for planning and development issues across Northern Ireland. In a previous incarnation I was a co-director of archaeological contractors which provided specialist archaeological advice and skills to the Northern Ireland Environment Agency: Built Heritage (NIEA:BH). The advent of more effective Artillery, would cause the demise of The Pike (but not Firearms).Born in Belfast, I worked in the field of contract archaeology, 16 years to be precise, before I considered entertaining a career in history. By the 17th Century, Spanish Tercios had refined the tactic to it's ultimate use. The use of Shot and Pike was heavily used by many Mercenary Units, and would spread into general use throughout Europe. The Shot and Pike was very effective in haulting Cavalry Charges. They began to be seen as a Force Multipler. In deployment Riflemen would be interspersed into the Pike Ranks. Thus was born The "Shot and Pike" Formation. With the advent of practical Firearms, their unique use (at the time), was seen as an increase to the force of The Pike. A typical Formation would consist of 300 Pikemen and 150 to 200 Arquebusiers (or Riflemen).

It's deployment was argumented by the Pike Square, a 4-sided Formation which placed these weapons outward from all sides.

The dominate weapon of many battlefields was the 15-25-foot Infantry Pike. Pike and Shot Formation by Crusader1307 The Pike and Shot Formation and Tactic was a popular battlefield component first developed during The Italian Wars ( 1494-1559).
