The bow   

Bows were typically made from yew wood: the dark, hard heart wood provides the necessary tensile strength, whilst the light sapwood, with its pliability and flexibility, prevents the bow from breaking.   

 The string notches are positioned relatively far from the end of the bow. This shortens the effective length of the bow and may make it easier to draw. The bow tips were sometimes reinforced, so that the bow itself could also be used as a thrusting weapon in close combat.   

 Find site: Nydam Moor 

The arrows 

Ideally, arrow shafts are made of pine wood, which is characterised by high elasticity and strength. They taper from the centre towards the ends, which prevents the arrows from breaking when fired.    

The fletching ensured a stable flight path. They were usually taken from white-tailed eagles and were glued to the shaft with birch tar and wrapped with nettle thread. The way the feathers are wrapped reveals a personal style. The number of wraps per 10 cm ranges from a very rough 17 wraps to a perfectionist 70 wraps. Based on left- and right-handed windings, one can even identify left- and right-handed individuals.    

Engraved signs and decorations are interpreted as markers of ownership.    

The arrowheads are made of iron, bone, or antler. Their fletching was glued into the split arrow shaft using birch tar and wrapped with thread. Each use requires its own arrows: slender points to pierce armour; broader points for fighting unarmoured opponents.    

Location: Nydam Moor