antler bows
Laubin described in his book the making of an antler bow.
In the Peabody Museum of the Harvard University such an antler bow is posted.
They were told to have more ornamental sense than to be used as a weapon.
Some more ideas?
Have antler bows been used in Asia?
Michael
In the Peabody Museum of the Harvard University such an antler bow is posted.
They were told to have more ornamental sense than to be used as a weapon.
Some more ideas?
Have antler bows been used in Asia?
Michael
I've thought about these bows a bit ,too. Maybe there are processes in the construction that we no longer know ,that make the antlers more suitable as a belly?
For instance I've heard that the Native American sheep horn bows ,were constructed by soaking the whole horn in a hot springs for a few days.Then upon removal the horn is quite pliable and can be cut easily with a flint blade.
A similar process could add minerals to antler and change it in some way?
For instance I've heard that the Native American sheep horn bows ,were constructed by soaking the whole horn in a hot springs for a few days.Then upon removal the horn is quite pliable and can be cut easily with a flint blade.
A similar process could add minerals to antler and change it in some way?
Dr Grayson has made several antler bows and there are some original ones in the collection.
Caribou or reindeer antler is easier to use because of the ability to get long straight pieces.
The bows often have a separate handle joining two limbs. The back is sinew covered. They were probably high status weapons because of the amount of time and effort put into them. However, they are fully working bows in the short draw Plains Indian tradition.
Antler laths for the belly of a bow have been found in situ in Siberian prehistoric sites.
Mountain sheep horn produces good bows too, but it is difficult to work even with modern tools because of the spiral nature of the horn.
Caribou or reindeer antler is easier to use because of the ability to get long straight pieces.
The bows often have a separate handle joining two limbs. The back is sinew covered. They were probably high status weapons because of the amount of time and effort put into them. However, they are fully working bows in the short draw Plains Indian tradition.
Antler laths for the belly of a bow have been found in situ in Siberian prehistoric sites.
Mountain sheep horn produces good bows too, but it is difficult to work even with modern tools because of the spiral nature of the horn.
Thank you,
The idea of adding minerals to the antler to make it more pliable is very interesting. I did some tries to bend strips of bone while cooking it for a while in water mixed with vinegar, it worked a bit.
Dr. Grayson is always a good and serious source.
I? ve done two mountain sheephorn- bows till now, very nice and high efficient bows. But very fragile to moisture and surrounding conditions, their power can badly drop down.
I?ve not forget the breaking of some bands of my band- saw while cutting this kind of horn. Next time I?ll do it with my hands.
Michael
The idea of adding minerals to the antler to make it more pliable is very interesting. I did some tries to bend strips of bone while cooking it for a while in water mixed with vinegar, it worked a bit.
Dr. Grayson is always a good and serious source.
I? ve done two mountain sheephorn- bows till now, very nice and high efficient bows. But very fragile to moisture and surrounding conditions, their power can badly drop down.
I?ve not forget the breaking of some bands of my band- saw while cutting this kind of horn. Next time I?ll do it with my hands.
Michael
Bede, I forgot to ask you for more infos about these Siberian antler bows?
Michael
Michael
I have two sources for prehistoric Siberian antler bellied bows. One was in a book on Siberia with a drawing of an excavation with a long bow that unstrung had an S shaped profile. Its shape was outlined by small strips of antler.
In a display panel of an exhibition of Siberian archaeology, I saw the drawings of several bows. They were long and had longer strips of antler attached. There looked to be some overlapping.
In a display panel of an exhibition of Siberian archaeology, I saw the drawings of several bows. They were long and had longer strips of antler attached. There looked to be some overlapping.