Bows
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Self-bows
Bows in this period are classed as self-bows, being made from a single piece of D section wood, usually yew. Nocks are cut straight into the wood. [HALPIN 2008]:p.40-41
800-899 | 900-979 | 980-1040 | 1041-1100 |
Optional |
Art
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Literature
Archaeology
- Waterford, Ireland
- Ballinderry, Ireland, late C10th. [HALPIN 2008]:p.184-185 1 Complete bow.
- Dublin, Ireland, C11th / C12th. [HALPIN 2008]:p.184-185 1 Complete bow, 7 bow fragments.
- Hedeby, Denmark, [PAULSEN 1999] 1 Complete, 6 fragments
- Leiden, Netherlands, 800-950AD [DE STOUTE 2008] 1 Complete bow
Other finds:
Nydem, Vimose and Kragehul, Denmark bog finds also had bows and arrows.
Deflexed Self-bow
A deflexed nock is where the nock is deliberately strongly angled towards the string.
Art
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Archaeology
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Discussion
Almost all of the Anglo-Saxon manuscripts show bows with nocks deflexed away from the archer, the complete reverse of the deflexed nocks found in archaeology.
Re-curved (Reflexed) Self-bow
A re-curve self-bow is where the stave of the bow is deliberately curved away from the string.
800-899 | 900-979 | 980-1040 | 1041-1100 |
Allowable |
Archaeology
- Ballinderry, Ireland, late C10th. [HALPIN 2008]:p.184-185 1 Complete bow.
- Hedeby, Denmark, [PAULSEN 1999]
Discussion
Many of the Hedeby bows are shaped this way, along with the Ballinderry bow from Ireland. Paulsen [PAULSEN 1999] makes the case that this is “caused by shrinkage of the soft sapwood in the front”, a theory that is rejected by Halpin [HALPIN 2008]:p.61 who cites a number of authors including Hardy who makes the comment that the bows from the Mary Rose were also re-curved and “that no process during the lifetime of the bows, or after deposition, are convincing explanations for this feature”.
Bow Strings
Archaeology
- 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.
- York, England. A lump of beeswax with a groove caused by rubbing against a thread or string. Walton-Rogers comments that beeswax was often used on bow strings [WALTON ROGERS 1997]:p.1785
Discussion
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See Also
Catalogue of Bow finds
Archery
References
- [DE STOUTE 2008] ^ de Stoute, Jur. Paleo Planet, Archery - Primitive Bows - 1200 year old longbow from Netherlands. 12 05 2008. http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/reply/190064/Close--pics--1200-year-old-longbow--Netherlands-discussion#reply-190064.
- [HALPIN 2008] ^ 1 2 3 4 5 6 Halpin, Andrew. Weapons and Warfare in Viking and Medieval Dublin. National Museum of Ireland, 2008.
- [MANLEY 1985] ^ Manley, John. “The Archer and the Army in the Late Saxon Period.” Anglo-SAxon Studies in Archaeology and History 4, 1985: 223 - 235.
- [PAULSEN 1999] ^ 1 2 3 Paulsen, H. “Pfiel und Bogen in Haithabu.” In Neue Ausgrabungen in Haithabu; Band 33: Das archäologische Fundmaterial VI, by A. Geibig and H. Paulsen. 1999.
- [STEPHENSON 2007] ^ Stephenson, I. P. The Late Anglo-Saxon Army. Tempus, 2007
- [WALTON ROGERS 1997] ^ Walton Rogers, Penelope. Textile Production at 16-22 Coppergate. AY17-11. York Archeological Trust, 1997.