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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: Buemaker on June 12, 2021, 08:43:02 AM

Title: Stone Age bows from Denmark.
Post by: Buemaker on June 12, 2021, 08:43:02 AM

In 2011 a Stone Age site which is now under water was excavated in Horsens fjord in Denmark. Several interesting finds were done and among them a well preserved Elm bow. It has been carbon dated to 5000bc.
If you want to make a real Stone Age bow this is it. The so called Møllegabet that many makes was just a small piece  and could just as well have been a beating stick for washing textiles. I’ll post a picture of the Møllegabet fragment in an answer to this post. Now that we have the bow from Horsens fjord the Møllegabet becomes more plausible.
Peter Svinkløv of Denmark have obtained the Horsens measurements and made a drawing of the original and one upscaled version that may suit today’s archer better.
Thank you Peter.

Title: Re: Stone Age bows from Denmark.
Post by: Buemaker on June 12, 2021, 09:05:08 AM

Soory, unable to post the Møllegabet fragment.

Title: Re: Stone Age bows from Denmark.
Post by: Mad Max on June 12, 2021, 09:10:27 AM

I’ve made one before but parallel in the middle limb and a thicker handle.
I will copy that  :thumbsup  Thanks

Title: Re: Stone Age bows from Denmark.
Post by: Roy from Pa on June 12, 2021, 09:19:51 AM

 :thumbsup:

Title: Re: Stone Age bows from Denmark.
Post by: KenH on June 12, 2021, 10:00:19 AM

Many thanks, Bue.  Like MadMax I've made several Mollegabet style bows, but with parallel mid-limbs and squarer shoulders at the base of the levers.  Fun bows to make and shoot.  I've even made them as Two-wood  Composite bows with elm and ash.  The basic shape would make a great wood-glass composite "flat bow" too. 

Title: Re: Stone Age bows from Denmark.
Post by: Pat B on June 12, 2021, 10:52:14 AM

Thanks, Bue those are interesting and I have a piece of elm I got from the son of a friend after Tom passed. That might be an interesting project using Bue's sinew even though it probably wouldn't be historical. Been thinking about building as bow with that piece of elm anyway.

Title: Re: Stone Age bows from Denmark.
Post by: Buemaker on June 12, 2021, 11:15:04 AM

The thin levers are not completely stiff, but are bending a bit.Excellent shooter.

Title: Re: Stone Age bows from Denmark.
Post by: Longcruise on June 12, 2021, 12:10:54 PM

I made one of those from an oak board.  About a 20# for the kids.  It's still around somewhere.   Was a good shooter but too long for the kids.

Title: Re: Stone Age bows from Denmark.
Post by: B-JS on June 12, 2021, 12:27:39 PM

Built one several years ago.
Sadly Made the needles a bit toooo slim.
Did Last Just some dozends of shoots.
But IT was f***ing fast for a selfbow.
 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]  [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]  [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

Title: Re: Stone Age bows from Denmark.
Post by: willi on June 12, 2021, 03:28:30 PM

thanks for posting the Peter Svinkløv  info.

https://marinmoesmus.wordpress.com/

has some info and this longer link translates

https://translate.google.com/translate?prev=/language_tools&u=https%3A%2F%2Fmarinmoesmus.wordpress.com%2F

this pic doesn't seem to show the tips, could some bowyers "artistic licence" have been applied when drawing the sketches? or maybe the tips were seen underwater but not recovered? or a tip recovered later or not shown in the divers blog?

https://marinmoesmus.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/2011-12-14-13-51-44.jpg

Title: Re: Stone Age bows from Denmark.
Post by: Mad Max on June 12, 2021, 06:48:11 PM

Bue Do you know what poundage this bow was?

It's 3/4" to 5/8" thick in the working area on the 65-3/8" one

Title: Re: Stone Age bows from Denmark.
Post by: Buemaker on June 14, 2021, 03:46:43 PM

Max. Peter made one after the measurement and it came close to 90 pounds at 26» Peter said that he is confident the width profile is correct, but thickness after thousands of years in mud and water- - -

Title: Re: Stone Age bows from Denmark.
Post by: Mad Max on June 14, 2021, 04:32:22 PM

Thanks Bue
I have both of them on my CAD program now :thumbsup:

Title: Re: Stone Age bows from Denmark.
Post by: Shredd on June 14, 2021, 08:29:11 PM

Watching...  Nice bow JS...