Yuan Dynasty Closed Quiver

Stephen Selby · Post by **Stephen Selby** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 3:37 am

Please refer back to this image:
http://198.170.108.27/photo/showimg.php ... posite.jpg

I have just had a chance to pass the bow through a security x-ray machine. Here is the x-ray image. This is the best resolution that such machines can achieve.

Andrew Hall · Post by **Andrew Hall** » Sun Dec 31, 2006 3:44 pm

Stephen

Interesting. It is a pity it is not of high enough resolution to show any joints. It does appear to show that the horn is recessed into the base of the siyah.

Do you know if bone would show up differently from horn on a security X-Ray? The bow finds labelled as Mongolian in some Russian archaeological sources have a bone belly plate on the grip and forming the fades to the limbs. These only require fairly short lengths of horn for the bending limbs. The belly of the grip appears lighter in colour than the belly of the limbs, but this could just be an effect of the machine.

Regards

Andrew

Bede · Post by **Bede** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 9:37 pm

To add to Andrew's comments, it appears that the belly strips overlap the ends of the grip belly lamination.

This seems to be an archaic feature similar to the earlier bows with more pronounced set-back handles. Having recently read Andrew's article in the Journal of Archer-Antiquaries, I would see this as supporting the theory of bow development he is advancing.

I know from Wenwu that bows with the horn inset into the siyah have been found in Yuan dynasty tombs.

Stephen Selby · Post by **Stephen Selby** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 1:20 am

I agree that this x-ray just proves the need for a better x-ray! I'll try and get one done. If I just do the grip and the siyah joint on one side, it should be enough.

Andrew Hall · Post by **Andrew Hall** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 7:08 pm

Bede, I wonder if the line hinting at the horn overlapping the grip belly is just an image processing artefact - it is suspiciously horizontal.

Stephen, are any of the joints visible through the birch-bark covering on the belly?

Regards

Andrew

Bede · Post by **Bede** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:19 pm

Andrew,
It could be. There is no corresponding line on the lower end of the handle area. Equally that could be caused by a slight angle of the object to the radiation source.. My experience with X-Rays has been patchy at best. Dr Grayson succeeded, but he has years of experience.

Stephen Selby · Post by **Stephen Selby** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 1:55 am

Let's not strain our eyes or imaginations on this rather poor x-ray. I'll get some better ones done when I can find a lab to do it.

This bow is in pristine condition. Almost all the birch-bark is present. I believe that the reason that there are no string nocks may be that it has never been used and the nocks were never cut.

But does any of you know whether there were styles of bows in Central/West Asia where the string was just wound onto the Siyah and not looped over nocks?

Bede · Post by **Bede** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 2:31 am

Stephen,
As you know, there are tomb figures from China with the strings just tied onto the siyahs, but whether that is accurate representation or artistic licence I do not know. I think it might be the latter.

The majority of illustrations from Central and West Asia that show bows in detail have string nocks on the back. I think this is universal with bows that have siyahs. I am also making the assumption that a single loop of string indicates there has to be a nock underneath.

Having written that, there will always be exceptions because we are discussing artists and not draftsmen.

In the cases of bone strips, I think all have nocks if the tips are intact.

Andrew Hall · Post by **Andrew Hall** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 6:06 pm

Stephen

I suspect that the nock grooves are used as identifying characteristics on bone siyah plates. So in the (unlikely?) event that a bow was made without nock grooves, it's remains may well be misidentified.

Having made and strung some stone-age style flatbows without nocks, I would not like to try and hold a composite in the brace position whilst I tied the string on. It is easier with a slip-knot, but this requires a tapered tip.

Could a small bone plate with a nock groove have been glued to the back of the siyah? These plates are known from the Altai region in association with Mongolian style bone grip plates at about this period.

Regards

Andrew