Maciej Sadło Experimental Studies in the Field of Ballistics on Different Types of Arrow Shafts Maciej Sadło The invention of metallurgy improved the manufacture of arrow shafts made from split wood; however, it is likely that before this innovation this process relied mainly on stems from trees and shrubs. In Europe, the species employed in shaft manufacture included willow, hazel, dogwood, and viburnum. The goal of the study presented here was to examine how wood type influences arrow flight trajectory. Towards this aim, an experiment was carried out in 2019 using replicas of bows modeled on prehistoric finds from Europe, namely the Bolków and the Holmegaard bows. This article presents the results of this ballistic research, showing possible differences in the use of different species of trees and shrubs. 76 Chronika volume 11iv 76 6/8/21 5:11 PM Experimental Studies in the Field of Ballistics on Different Types of Arrow Shafts Introduction reflected in the literature, where studies devoted to the preservation and influence In Europe, interest in archery emerged of the arrow shaft on flight trajectory are around the mid-nineteenth century as a absent. Only a few prehistoric sites where result of the then popular image of the preserved arrow shafts were found are “noble savage” and the “fashion for history” known in Europe. These include Stellmoore in Victorian England, when the bow was 8 1 in northern Germany , Similaun in the Ötztal a toy for the elite . The development of Alps9, and Langfonne in Norway10. At these science drove scholars to look at this tool sites, the use of several tree species for shaft as an object that could be studied, and at production has been recorded. Among them archery as an issue that could be analyzed were dogwood, viburnum, hazel, and pine. from various perspectives2. Scientific research on this subject dates back to the In 2019, the archaeological experiment beginning of the twentieth century and has discussed here was conducted to verify continued to this day. Early research often and interpret data on the effectiveness focused on evaluating the effectiveness of of using arrows with shafts made from bows and, above all, the ballistic coefficient the above-mentioned species. To achieve of arrows. An example of such work can be the study’s goals, the following steps found in studies of shooting trials published were undertaken: the acquisition of raw in 1918, which used bows and projectiles material, the manufacture of arrows, and from different eras and cultures around the experimental shooting sessions. The aim world3. Another common type of research of this experiment was to produce arrows was the reconstruction of ancient bows and with shafts made from various plant species arrows based on finds from archaeological while using arrowheads inspired by material sites. This made it possible to compare bows known from Late Neolithic/Eneolithic sites from different times periods and regions, co-researched by the author. The focus therefore informing us about the way they was solely on plant-firing arrows, since may have been used in the past. an accurate replication of the process of making split-wood arrows would require However, so far, experimental archaeology the production of prehistoric metal tools. has mainly focused on the study of projectile The author realizes that it is possible to point function, especially in terms of produce prehistoric arrows without the use microscopic evidence of damage caused by 4 of metal, but this is beyond his possibilities. shooting . This focus naturally arose from This experimental project made it possible the fact that the most frequently recovered to check the ballistic properties of particular archery pieces in archaeological contexts are tree and shrub species, the influence of these arrowheads. Made of durable materials, such 5 6 7 shafts on the arrows’ flight trajectory, the as stone, flint , bone , or metal , arrowheads significance of wind pressure on shooting, tend to be the better-preserved part of an as well as the effective distance between arrow. This fact has had a key impact on the shooter and the target. The steps of this the study of ballistics of prehistoric arrows. study were documented photographically Yet, the organic elements that constitute the and descriptively. rest of the arrow are also important when trying to achieve the perfect shot. Still, this has rarely been studied, probably due to the Materials and Methods scarce reference-base available. Indeed, The experiment was divided into two organic elements are preserved only in phases: (1) manufacturing and (2) shooting, specific environmental contexts, and only a for which the reconstructive, experimental, few of these, such as bogs or glaciers, allow and comparative methods were adopted them to survive for many hundreds of years. as the methodological basis. During the Therefore, the number of complete arrows first phase, shoots of different types of recovered to date is limited. This lack is Institute for European and Mediterranean Archaeology 77 volume 11iv 77 6/8/21 5:11 PM Maciej Sadło plants were subjected to treatment aimed at shooting phase, distance variation was eliminating defective material. The use of introduced to test the effectiveness of each various types of shafts made it possible to arrow under specific conditions. analyze their properties in terms of quality of the raw material and labor intensity of Two straight bows made by an external the workmanship. The weight of each arrow qualified person and modeled after finds was compared, and a record was kept of from sites in Bolków and Holmegaard were the individual components (arrowhead, used during the experiment. They both fletchings, and shaft) that could affect represented different types from various the arrow’s flight trajectory. A DIGILAB periods, which, in the author’s opinion, TRADING JKH-4000 electronic scale helped to indicate potential differences was used for this purpose. The arrows between shafts. While the structures of the were grouped according to weight and bows were reconstructed in reference to plant species, and given serial numbers. the finds, it was impossible to reproduce The dogwood (Cornus mas L.) arrows bowstrings as the originals were not even weighed from 31 to 39 g. and were divided fragmentarily preserved in archaeological into three weight groups each with five contexts. Therefore, the bowstrings used arrows. The viburnum (Viburnum opulus were made after the English longbow 11 L.) arrows weighed from 27 to 31 g. and, model , and linen chords were applied. like the dogwood arrows, were divided into Arrowhead shapes were modeled after three groups, each with five pieces. There the Late Neolithic materials from Poland were also 10 arrows of hazel (Corylus L.). coming from sites in Suchacz (Rzucewo 12 13 They weighed from 25 to 32 g. They were type) and Supraśl (Bell Beaker type) , divided into two groups of five pieces each. which appear to the author as very unique Due to the small representation of willow and flexible for such an experiment. The arrows, it was decided to leave them in one shafts were made from the following plant group. They weighed from 23 to 28 g, and species whose presence was confirmed 14 their number was six. Also the tension of in the archaeological record: dogwood , 15 16 17 the bows was measured, after which test viburnum , hazel , and willow . For shooting sessions were conducted to check reference analyses, the day before and on their efficiency. In addition to combining the day of the main research, a comparison different arrows and bows during the shooting session with replicas of medieval Figure 1: Replica bows from Holmegaard and Bolków. 78 Chronika volume 11iv 78 6/8/21 5:11 PM Experimental Studies in the Field of Ballistics on Different Types of Arrow Shafts Figure 2: Examination of the maximum range (moment of the shot from the replica bow from Bolków). bows with split arrows was conducted. As a result, it was possible to measure the maximum range for both bows (around 150 m) and the dispersion zone of arrows at the target (between 1.5 m. wide by 3 m. deep). This experiment showed a high degree of repeatability of the archer (shooting repeatability), which seemed to prevent the potential risk of data manipulation related to shooter fatigue. The experiment was carried out respecting all research principles, as well as the methodological limitations arising from the problem of reproducing prehistoric phenomena. Experiment The experiment consisted of two phases: manufacturing and shooting. The first lasted from late February 2019 to mid-October 2019, while the second was conducted over two days in early November 2019. While the arrows were prepared in-house and following the model of Ötzi’s arrows19 (with minor change applied to the individual components)–in some pieces a horizontal fletching system was introduced instead of a radial one–the bows were commissioned from a professional bow-maker, who made them according to the models coming from Figure 3: Skin of a calf spread on a target. sites in Bolków and Holmegaard20. The Institute for European and Mediterranean Archaeology 79 volume 11iv 79 6/8/21 5:11 PM Maciej Sadło manufacture of the stems began with a search for suitable plants (shrubs and trees), and the gathering of stems. These included: dogwood, viburnum, hazel, and willow. Due to seasonal variations affecting the structure and physical properties of each species differently, the material was obtained both at the end of February and the beginning of March, and also several months later–in June and September. The periods of material acquisition were related to the cycle of plant growth, which affects the parameters of the collected raw material due to the plants growth on the diameter–during these periods they display ideal qualities due to nutrient Figure 4: Removal of bark from a fresh shoot (note storage.