This is a translation of part of the article "Pfeil und Bogen in Haithabu (Arrows and bows in Hedeby)" which appeared in the publication, "Neue Ausgrabungen in Haithabu; Band 33: Das archäologische Fundmaterial VI" by Geibig, A. and Paulsen, H., 1998 (ISBN 352901933X). Special thanks to Verena Mullins for doing the translation for me!
This translation was done for educational purposes. It was done so that further study of Viking age archery could be done by reenactors.
The Bows of Hedeby
1. INTRODUCTION
Thousands of iron arrowheads are known from settlements, graves, and other places of discovery from the Viking age. Exceptionally rare, however, are findings of bows or shaft remains. Thanks to the good preservation conditions in the Haithabu area near the river, a complete longbow of yew tree wood and six bow pieces were found between 1966 and 1969. Among the pieces that were recovered were numerous arrowheads, wooden bow heads, and bow shafts. With these finds, a nearly complete picture can be drawn of this important long range weapon.
2. BOWS
2.1. Bow 1
Longbows of yew tree wood (picture 1-5): length 191 cm, in the center 4.0 x 3.3 cm, slightly tapered towards the ends, throughout oval cross section.
The bow is now bent towards the shooting direction, caused by shrinkage of the soft sapwood in the front. Compared to common modern sports bow shapes, the ends of the Haithabu bow are bent slightly backwards: above to a length of 9 cm, below to a length of 7 cm. The D-shaped or oval flat areas at the top and bottom with measurements of 3.0 x 2.3 above and 2.8 x 1.8 below slope backwards diagonally towards the center of the bow. Both ends show slight signs of (Bestossung) hitting/knocking/bumping?. There is a 4 mm deep flat, rectangular bowstring groove at 7 cm from the top. It seems that the bow has been used only for a short time, as the contours of the bowstring are very sharp-edged. (picture 4.1-02)
17 cm below the same bow end, an iron nail with round head is driven into the wood in the center of the front (picture 1.4). According to x-rays, the nail is 0.7 cm deep in the sapwood. Its location suggests that it served as a rest for the loose bowstring. A flat constriction at the root of the slightly outward bent lower end of the bow allows the presumption that the bowstring was tied to the bow in this location. A crank and offset of the end of the bow to the back prevented shifting of the bowstring to the center of the bow. However, imprints of the bowstring cannot be identified. The bow is made out of an extremely thin yew tree branch, which could not have been any thicker than 5-6 cm at its root. The marrow canal in the middle of the wood is present in almost its full length inside the bow staff. The bow was designed so that the upper end points towards the root-end of the branch.
The backside of the bow is perfectly smooth. In contrast, the front shows a few bumps and branch accretions, which were left almost unaltered. In favor of functionality, aesthetical aspects were not considered. In no way do the branch accretions diminish the functionality of the bow. In the front, the bark was removed and the sapwood filed smoothly. The branch accretions were only rounded a little bit by this (picture 5). There are no signs of a grip. There are a few scratches above the mid-section of the bow, which most likely derive from arrow gliding (compare picture 21.1)
2.2 Bow 2
Upper end of the bow from yew wood (picture 6); remaining length 16.3 cm; diameter at fracture 2.0 x 1.4 cm; throughout oval cross-section.
The end of the bow has been cut and broken with a sharp object multiple times. On one side, 5.8 cm from the bow end, a significant bow groove, 5 mm wide and 4.5 mm deep, is carved in the wood, which shows a clearly visible imprint of a bowstring (compare picture 21.4). The wood is smooth all around. This bow, as well, was made from an extremely thin stem. The marrow canal leaves the staff on the backside, near the fracture. It is obvious that the stem could have only been a few cm in this area. The bow end is suggestively bent backwards. The oval area at the end, with a diameter of 1.6 x 0.9, slopes diagonally backwards. There is a fine, slurred ridge on this surface, which reaches from the center of the front to the back side.
Lower end of the bow from yew wood (picture 7); remaining length 47.5 cm, diameter at fracture 2.4 cm x 1.6 cm.
Clearly visible, there is a groove from a wrapping, 3.5 cm from the beginning of the offset bow end. Most likely, this is a sign of the bowstring being wrapped around the bow (compare picture 21.3). There is a 0.2 cm high ridge on the oval area at the end of the bow (diameter 1.4 x 0.8 cm), similar to bow 2. The function of this ridge is unknown. The backside is carefully smoothed. There are two strong branch accretions. At the widest point of the fragment, the yew branch could have only been 4 cm thick.
2.4 Bow 4
Lower par of the bow from yew wood (picture 8); remaining length 27.8 cm, oval cross-section, diameter above fracture 2.6 x 1.9 cm.
The bow end slopes slightly backwards at 8 cm. The flat oval area at the end measures 2.0 x 1.1 cm in diameter. The diameter of the staff was 4 - 5 cm at the most. The marrow canal in the back is uncovered. There are no branch accretions in the front. The fragment is smooth all around.
2.5 Bow 5
Lower part of the bow from yew wood; remaining length 23.1 cm, diameter at fracture 2.1 cm x 1.5 cm.
The bow end is set off to the back at 6.7 cm. The width at the offset is 1.5 cm to avoid slipping of the bowstring where it is tied to the bow. The D-shaped area at the end of the staff has a diameter of 17.0 x 8 cm and is diagonally set off to the back.
2.6 Bow 6
Lower part of a bow from yew wood; remaining length 21.8 cm, 1.9 cm in diameter at fracture, oval cross-section.
There is a small ridge, 1.2 x 0.8 cm in diameter, at the oval area at the end of the bow, similar to bows 2 and 3.
2.7 Bow 7
Upper part of a bow from elm tree wood (picture 9); remaining length 37.5 cm, diameter above fracture 1.65 x 2.7 cm, oval cross-section, bow ends are flat-oval, diameter at end area 1.9 x 0.85 cm.
The bow end is set off to the back at 7 cm. On the left side, 5 cm from the bow end, there is a 0.4 cm deep bowstring groove cut into the staff.
