Bronce age bow from Norway!
Last fall there was found a (close to) fully preserved bow from the bronce age in Norway. Here's an article with a picture. Maybe google translate will turn it into english.
http://www.oppland.no/Fag-og-tjenester/ ... ar-gammel/
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It's 3300 years old and made from elm (or ash). There has been found very few bows in Norway. With exception of the numerous finds of medieval two-wood laminated bows, there are as far as I know only two other finds with remains of bows. Also, bows from the bronce age are very rare, even seen from a European perspective. - so this is quite remarkable, and it is showing a completely new side to prehistoric bowyery in this part of the world. I think the bow looks very much like some American-Indian bows. It's wonderful to see how near identical bows have been developed in areas so far apart.
Gad Rausing, in his book "The bow" interpreted some rock carvings from Sweden as being composite bows. They are depicted as having a "B"-profile, or doubly convex. This new find seems to turn down this interpretion, as this bow may have had a B-profile. - which then blows away the old notion about the "old scandinavian composite bow".
The shoe in the article is dated to the viking age. From the same site, close to a melting snow patch, there has also been found a lot of other artefacts, including a fully preserved woolen coat from 300 ad. All of these finds are a result of global warming, where the finds have been kept frozen in the snow since they were left there. I believe the majority of the finds from these places are hunting arrows, meant to hit reindeer, but lost in the snow. Some even have the fletching preserved from the viking age. Very-very inspiring!
http://www.oppland.no/Fag-og-tjenester/ ... ar-gammel/
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![[external image]](http://www.oppland.no/PageFiles/60873/Buen_red.JPg){kind=link}
It's 3300 years old and made from elm (or ash). There has been found very few bows in Norway. With exception of the numerous finds of medieval two-wood laminated bows, there are as far as I know only two other finds with remains of bows. Also, bows from the bronce age are very rare, even seen from a European perspective. - so this is quite remarkable, and it is showing a completely new side to prehistoric bowyery in this part of the world. I think the bow looks very much like some American-Indian bows. It's wonderful to see how near identical bows have been developed in areas so far apart.
Gad Rausing, in his book "The bow" interpreted some rock carvings from Sweden as being composite bows. They are depicted as having a "B"-profile, or doubly convex. This new find seems to turn down this interpretion, as this bow may have had a B-profile. - which then blows away the old notion about the "old scandinavian composite bow".
The shoe in the article is dated to the viking age. From the same site, close to a melting snow patch, there has also been found a lot of other artefacts, including a fully preserved woolen coat from 300 ad. All of these finds are a result of global warming, where the finds have been kept frozen in the snow since they were left there. I believe the majority of the finds from these places are hunting arrows, meant to hit reindeer, but lost in the snow. Some even have the fletching preserved from the viking age. Very-very inspiring!
Very good article, very inspiring, thank you for sharing!
Do you have pictures of the viking-age fletching?
Do you have pictures of the viking-age fletching?
Great find, thanks!
It looking very close to some of Native American and African bow!
I'm shure the bow upside down on the pic, as some of the American museum pics.
Most of this bows have deflexed tips and reflexed handle. (Gull wing form)
Looking forward for more pics from this...
What does it mean? Lengdem?let for buen er 126 cm (kordelengde) og ca. 131 cm. i ?utrettet? tilstand.
The bow is 131cm and the string is 126?
It looking very close to some of Native American and African bow!
I'm shure the bow upside down on the pic, as some of the American museum pics.
Most of this bows have deflexed tips and reflexed handle. (Gull wing form)
Looking forward for more pics from this...
What does it mean? Lengdem?let for buen er 126 cm (kordelengde) og ca. 131 cm. i ?utrettet? tilstand.
The bow is 131cm and the string is 126?
Here's some more pictures of the bow and some other finds from the same site.
http://mimisbrunnr.no/?p=803#
Jack Farrel found this article with a rather good photo of the best preserved arrow. This one is from a different mountain, however.
http://www.ntnu.no/gemini/2010-03/12-15.htm
The length of the bow is 131cm along the stave, while 126 is the length in a straight line.
http://mimisbrunnr.no/?p=803#
Jack Farrel found this article with a rather good photo of the best preserved arrow. This one is from a different mountain, however.
http://www.ntnu.no/gemini/2010-03/12-15.htm
The length of the bow is 131cm along the stave, while 126 is the length in a straight line.
Ivar, What is that wound around the fletch? Looks like a spruce root? Ever seen that before? Looks to be a round something.
I'm not quite sure as I have not seen this one myself. But there have been sinew preserved on other shafts - for securing the tanged points. I would not be surpriced if it was sinew. Or maybe it is hemp/etc thread? A spruce root seems a bit unusual?
thank you for the additional photos and informations!
Is that carved stick a drill?
Ivar, that's just great. It's exciting to think there still may be some more findings like that to appear in the future.
Jack, I believe the fletch whipping is some vegetable fiber, like Ivar mentiond; hemp, nettle or such.
The shaftment and the nock of the arrow on the picture looks exactly like those of the Iron Age arrows' excavated from the Danish votive bogs (Nydam, Vimose).
Jack, I believe the fletch whipping is some vegetable fiber, like Ivar mentiond; hemp, nettle or such.
The shaftment and the nock of the arrow on the picture looks exactly like those of the Iron Age arrows' excavated from the Danish votive bogs (Nydam, Vimose).
Fuzioli, regarding the staff. The article in Ivar's fist link says, translated quite roughly: The most mysterious find at the Lendbreen is what looks like part of a staff, with beautiful geometric ornaments. It's made of bich, c14 dated to about 800 ad. What this artifact has been used for is uncertain. It has obviously been longer originally. Might this be the top of a wanderers staff? A staff is often a sign off rank. Who owned this staff, and why was it left by the glacier?
Another thing, I think the nock-end of the arrow looks a bit like some arrows from the Nydam find (ca 200-450 ad Denmark/Germany)
Another thing, I think the nock-end of the arrow looks a bit like some arrows from the Nydam find (ca 200-450 ad Denmark/Germany)