Serbian Medieval Composite Bows
Zoran Pavlovic just published his article in the current issue of the Journal of the Society for Archer Antiquaries. There is a brief history of balkan / serbian history (which also for europeans remains "a book with seven seals"),
3D reconstructions of bows from frescoes and a large comparative collection of facts on composite bow archery in medieval Serbia, Europe and beyond.
The Journal has been the best source on traditional archery since decades - highly recommended.
:wink:
3D reconstructions of bows from frescoes and a large comparative collection of facts on composite bow archery in medieval Serbia, Europe and beyond.
The Journal has been the best source on traditional archery since decades - highly recommended.
:wink:
Brilliant! Looking forward to reading it :D
I'm amazed with amount of details . Great work.
Uli, thank you very much! Guys, I am very glad you like it.
My intention was to ask some new questions about the bows that were used in the medieval Serbian army and thus to contribute to new views of a missing part of the military history of the Serbs and other Balkans in the Middle Ages and military history in general. Although bows as a part of the archery equipment were discussed in Serbian historiography, there's a lot of things left unsaid. Using all available resources, especially the arts, I considered different options for making wood core and methods of construction in accordance with the material available at the time, then coating, ornaments different than those ones we meet in i.e. Islamic art and many other issues. It is interesting that in my research I came to the conclusion that certain fish and snake skins were common materials for covering the bows beside birch bark and rawhide as that bone plates appear more frequently as part of bow construction. The biggest surprise to me was result of reconstruction of (same type) bows depicted in Gračanica monastery and Staro Nagoričane, which showed the Mongolian form which led me to the conclusion that we deal with the bow modeled by Tartar mercenaries in the army of the Serbian King Stefan Uros II Milutin. Asking new issues, I left the opportunity to confirm or reject it in order to reach the exact image and to fill the gaps in the field of historical archery. My study ''Serbian composite bows up to third quarter of the 14th century'' (Srpski kompozitni lukovi do treće četvrtine četrnaestog veka) is just introduction to my second study about gradual evolution of bows in medieval Serbia into what we know as Ottoman Turkish bow. This is transition that occured in evolution of composite bows beginning with the end of 14th century.
Of course, I have to thank again to Stephen Selby and website ATARN and all the members who daily contribute to new knowledge. Also, thanx to all the people who contributed my work anyhow. Cheers!
My intention was to ask some new questions about the bows that were used in the medieval Serbian army and thus to contribute to new views of a missing part of the military history of the Serbs and other Balkans in the Middle Ages and military history in general. Although bows as a part of the archery equipment were discussed in Serbian historiography, there's a lot of things left unsaid. Using all available resources, especially the arts, I considered different options for making wood core and methods of construction in accordance with the material available at the time, then coating, ornaments different than those ones we meet in i.e. Islamic art and many other issues. It is interesting that in my research I came to the conclusion that certain fish and snake skins were common materials for covering the bows beside birch bark and rawhide as that bone plates appear more frequently as part of bow construction. The biggest surprise to me was result of reconstruction of (same type) bows depicted in Gračanica monastery and Staro Nagoričane, which showed the Mongolian form which led me to the conclusion that we deal with the bow modeled by Tartar mercenaries in the army of the Serbian King Stefan Uros II Milutin. Asking new issues, I left the opportunity to confirm or reject it in order to reach the exact image and to fill the gaps in the field of historical archery. My study ''Serbian composite bows up to third quarter of the 14th century'' (Srpski kompozitni lukovi do treće četvrtine četrnaestog veka) is just introduction to my second study about gradual evolution of bows in medieval Serbia into what we know as Ottoman Turkish bow. This is transition that occured in evolution of composite bows beginning with the end of 14th century.
Of course, I have to thank again to Stephen Selby and website ATARN and all the members who daily contribute to new knowledge. Also, thanx to all the people who contributed my work anyhow. Cheers!
Zoran,
I am reading the article now and it is looking good.
I am reading the article now and it is looking good.
Thanx Bede. I hope that you will agree with most of things. Although, guessing the construction and way of joinery used in Balkans since mid 13th century this work helped me to come to conclusion that bows in Serbia and Balkans at that time were under strong Mongol influence (''Mongol pattern''), undoubtely, unlike what i hypotethically guessed in the paper. V splice seems was already known after Mongol conquests but it is matter of another study after i give a try to reconstruct both versions. Any remark or critic is welcomed.
Best regards,
Zoran
Best regards,
Zoran
Great job!
V-splices are evident in Mongol period bows from the Tsaidam Basin. The one I have seen the report on was joined on both sides of the grip. It was unclear if there were any other splices.