Changes
Bows
,/* Archery in warfare */
==Self-bows==
== See Also ==Stringing nocks and string keepers====[[Catalogue Some bows have either a secondary set of Bow finds]nocks at one end of the bow-stave (Dublin, Waterford) or alternatively a hole has been drilled through the terminal (Adare Castle) [Halpin 2008: p.59-60].The secondary set of nocks, known as ‘stringing nocks’ helped in stringing the bow. <><br>[[The hole drilled through the terminal was probably a ‘string keeper‘. A loop of twine or leather thong was passed through the hole and the bow string with the intention of stopping the bow string from slipping down the bow-stave when unstrung.<gallery mode=Packed heights=250px style="Padding-left:30px; text-align:left;">Archery]]- String keeper (Stuttgart Psalter f.21r).jpg|String keeper<br>(Stuttgart Psalter f.21r)<br/gallery>
== References =Deflexed and reflexed terminals===*[*DE STOUTE 2008] de Stoute, JurWe also have evidence for some bows having deliberately bent terminals after the nock points. Paleo PlanetThese bent terminals either pointed towards the shooter (Dublin, Archery - Primitive Bows - 1200 year old longbow Hedeby) or pointed away from Netherlandsthe shooter (various manuscripts). 12 05 2008Bows with terminals that bend towards the shooter, otherwise known as ‘deflexed’, are considered to be a diagnostic characteristic of a ‘Viking’ bow. httpThese bent terminals were purely decorative and did not affect the ability of the bow in any way [Halpin 2008://paleoplanet69529p.yuku???].com/reply/190064/Close<br><gallery mode=Packed heights=250px style="Padding-left:30px; text-pics-align:left;">Archery -1200Nock Deflexed (Pierpoint-year-old-longbow--Netherlands-discussion#reply-190064Morgan Lib.*[*HALPIN 2008] Halpin, AndrewM. Weapons and Warfare in Viking and Medieval Dublin736 f. National Museum of Ireland, 200814).*[*MANLEY 1985] Manley, John. “The Archer and jpg|Bow with terminals that point towards the Army in the Late Saxon Periodshooter (deflexed).” Anglo-SAxon Studies in Archaeology and History 4, 1985: 223 <br>(Pierpoint- 235Morgan Lib.*[*PAULSEN 1999] Paulsen, HM. “Pfiel und Bogen in Haithabu736 fol.” In Neue Ausgrabungen in Haithabu; Band 33: Das archäologische Fundmaterial VI14, by AAD 1130)London, British Library MS Cotton Claudius B IV fol. Geibig and H41v. Paulsenjpg|Bow with terminals that point away from the shooter (reflexed). 1999<br>(Brit.*[*STEPHENSON 2007] Stephenson, ILib. PCott. The Late Clau. B IV, AD 1040) </gallery>Almost all of the Anglo-Saxon Army. Tempusmanuscripts show bows with nocks bent away from the archer (reflexed), 2007the complete reverse of the deflexed nocks found in archaeology.<br>*Many of the bows found in Hedeby have the 'Viking' style of nock that are bent towards the archer (deflexed), along with the Ballinderry bow from Ireland. Paulsen [*WALTON ROGERS 1997Paulsen 1999] Walton Rogersmakes the case that this is “caused by shrinkage of the soft sapwood in the front”, Penelopea theory that is rejected by Halpin [Halpin 2008: p. Textile Production at 1661] who cites a number of authors including Hardy who makes the comment that the bows from the Mary Rose were also re-22 Coppergate. AY17-11. York Archeological Trustcurved and “that no process during the lifetime of the bows, or after deposition, 1997are convincing explanations for this feature”.<br>
=== Bow Strings ===
These were probably made from hemp, linen or silk. The evidence seems to point at hemp being the most commonly used material (Halpin 2008, p.61). Bow strings were usually 3 to 4mm thick and made from 3 ply twine (Altdorf, Switzerland [Hoernig 2005: p.110])<br>
Wincott Heckett has suggested that a tablet-woven tubular silk cord, dated to mid C12th, from Waterford may be a bowstring. [Halpin 2008: p.61] Halpin then quotes Soar who suggests that the most common material for bow strings was hemp. In York, England, a lump of beeswax was found with a groove possibly caused by rubbing against a thread or string. Walton-Rogers comments that beeswax was often used on bow strings [Walton Rogers 1997: p.1785]
==Using the Bow==
===Loosing arrows===
During the Viking Age there were two methods employed for loosing arrows. The ‘Mediterranean loose’, which went on to dominate during the Middle Ages and the ‘Primary loose’, which w<><>. Arrows seem to have been drawn to the chest and not to the chin as is traditionally taught in modern longbow shooting.
===Archery in warfare===
Using archery in warfare appears to have been common in mainland Europe but probably not in Britain or Scandinavia. Why this was so is difficult to understand. Bows were used to both attack and defend fortifications but not apparently in direct combat. <br>
In Charlemagne’s armies it became an essential weapon: ‘lanceam, scutum et arcum cum duas cordas, sagittas duodecim’ Capitulary of Aachen of 802/3, c 9. This instruction is most likely the result of the Carolingian wars against the Avars who we know from grave finds used composite bows with bone lathes [Manley 1985: p.226]. <br>
We have evidence from manuscripts that in battle archery was often performed by two men working together, one firing while the other supplied arrows.
<gallery mode=Packed heights=250px style="Padding-left:30px; text-align:left;">
Archery - Paired (Harley Psalter f.6r).jpg|Archery in pairs (Harley Psalter f.6r)
Archery - Paired (Harley Psalter f.7r).jpg|Archery in pairs (Harley Psalter f.7r)
</gallery>
===Poison===
Battle of Maldon ‘poisoned point’ & ‘bows were busy’ [Manley 1985: p.225]
===Horse Archery===
It appears that archery was not performed in Britain from horseback but it might have been done in France and the rest of mainland Europe. Byzantium warriors were known to ride backwards while shooting [Nicolle 1984].
<gallery mode=Packed heights=250px style="Padding-left:30px; text-align:left;">
Archery - Horse (Stuttgart Psalter f.7v).jpg|Horse archers riding backwards<br>(Stuttgart Psalter f.7v)
Archery - Horse (Harley Psalter f.25r).jpg|(Harley Psalter f.25r)
</gallery>
== References ==
{{Ref|De Stoute 2008|x}}
{{Ref|Gebühr 2000|x}}
{{Ref|Halpin 2008|x}}
{{Ref|Hoernig 2005|x}}
{{Ref|Manley 1985|x}}
{{Ref|Nicolle 1984|x}}
{{Ref|Paulsen 1999|x}}
{{Ref|Stephenson 2007|x}}
{{Ref|Walton Rogers 1997|x}}
<HarvardReferences />