|
In June 1961, the Eclipse Peat Company opened up some new areas for peat extraction on the Somerset levels. Deep in the peat one-half of a wooden flat-bow was discovered (Fig. 1). The bow fragment was immediately taken to Cambridge University and subjected to carbowax treatment to preserve it. This bow was found to date from the Neolithic Period and was given the name the Meare Heath Bow (Clark & Godwin, The Illustrated London News, Feb 10th, 1962). The remains consisted of about half a bow of yew, broken across so that some 6cm’s of round-section handgrip remain. The rest of the bow-stave, about 93cm’s in length, take a flattened lanceolate shape of maximum width about 6cm’s, almost flat on one surface (the inner or belly of the bow) and convex on the outer (or back) of the bow. Part of the sub-terminal notch for attachment of the bowstring also remains. There are two transverse leather bands around the stave at its widest point and traces indicate that others were also originally present. In addition, there were clear traces of a narrow diagonal cross banding by strips of strengthening material, probably sinew. If the bow were originally symmetrical about the grip, its total length would have been around 190.5 cm long.
The age of the bow was verified in several ways. Firstly, stratigraphically the bow was found near the base of a dark humified peat previously known to have yielded a polished Neolithic axe of Graig Llywd stone and several sherds of a late Neolithic bowl of Peterborough ware (Clark & Godwin, The Illustrated London News, Feb 10th, 1962). Secondly, analysis of the sub-fossil pollen grains in the peat sample, taken to Cambridge surrounding the bow, showed the bow to have been deposited at a time shortly after a general decline in Elm pollen that is known throughout Northwestern Europe during the Neolithic Period. Also present were pollen grains of plants associated with the spread of Neolithic farming. Thirdly, the radiocarbon analysis gave results fully consistent with these findings, 2690 BC ± 120 years. The bow then can be placed firmly in the Middle Neolithic Period.
In terms of published results, prior to the current reconstruction, two reproductions of the Meare Heath bow have been made. The first bow was made in the 1960s by a Mr C.E. Lilley, and more recently, another was made by a Mr E. McEwen. It appears however, that both Lilley and McEwen used modern tools to make their bows, and neither reconstruction has been rigorously tested. Mr Lilley's Bow's draw weight was apparently measured, but the results were never published. It was however, shot by an archer at Dunster's ‘Grand Western Archery Society's’ meeting in May 1963, where an experienced Bowman hit a target at the third draw from a range of 60 yards (Clark, 1963).
McEwen's bow's draw weight was published, 41kg (90lbs) at 81cm’s (32"), but the bow broke during the tillering process and was repaired with glue, and a backing strip was added. The backing was a tough elastic strip of hickory; this strengthened the bow to make it usable but also inevitably increased its poundage giving an incorrect reading for the bow (Bergman, McEwen & Miller, 1988). Therefore, a proper reconstruction was necessary to answer a whole host of questions.
|
