Experimental assessment of Neo-Assyrian bronze arrowhead penetration: An initial study comparing bilobate versus trilobate morphologies

Mullen, Damon; Matney, Timothy; Morrison, Alex; Fisch, Michael R.; Buchanan, Briggs; Bebber, Michelle R.

doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2020.102765

Cited by 7 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…The preponderance of experimental evidence is consistent with the hypothesis that, all else being equal, there is an inverse relationship between tip cross‐sectional geometry (e.g., TCSA and TCSP) and penetration depth (Bebber et al, 2020; Chen et al, 2022; Howe, 2017; Hughes, 1998, pp. 353–356; Grady, 2017; Mika et al, 2020; Mullen et al, 2021; Salem & Churchill, 2016; Sitton et al, 2020). While these studies show a general inverse relationship between TCSA or TSCP and penetration depth, this paper examines two additional geometric characteristics as indicators to penetration depth.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Static penetration assessment of stone weapon tip geometry metrics and comparison of static and dynamic penetration depths

et al. 2022

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Many factors governed the penetration efficacy of prehistoric projectile weaponry. Archaeologists broadly focus their efforts on understanding the effect of stone weapon tips because these specimens are often the only part of the weapon system that survives in the archaeological record. The tip cross-sectional area (TCSA) and perimeter (TCSP) of stone weapon tips have been shown to correlate with target penetration depth. Here, using results from both static and dynamic penetration testing, we compare TCSA and TCSP against other tip geometry metrics: lateral surface area (LSA) and volume (V). Our analyses broadly show that using a single-point geometry metric evaluated at multiple locations along the length of the point, or using multiple geometry metrics evaluated at a single location, better predicts required energy than using a single-point geometry metric evaluated at a single location. Our results also show that in the case where a single geometry metric evaluated at multiple locations is used LSA provided the most robust prediction models. Finally, our results show that for the case where all geometry metrics evaluated at a single location are used the location that provides the most robust prediction model is dependent on how far the point penetrated the target.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Static penetration assessment of stone weapon tip geometry metrics and comparison of static and dynamic penetration depths

et al. 2022

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“…However, such a change would alter the outcomes of many archaeological weapons experiments. One can expect, for instance, that arrows tted with sharpened wooden tips would penetrate more deeply through ballistics gel, perhaps even with a tanned caribou hide "draped" over the target, than into the bodies of prey, whereas the opposite trend would occur for stone cutting tips (Waguespack et (Mullen 2021). We should also note that:…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…However, use of projectiles in combat adds an additional layer of complexity. Our last experiment reevaluates the results of a test in which bronze two and three blade Neo-Assyrian arrow points were shot into pottery clay (Mullen et al 2021). In that experiment, three-blade points were less e cacious for penetrating clay, leading the authors to emphasize their overall reduced e cacy relative to two blade forms and to question the socio-economic reasons for their manufacture in the late Bronze Age.…”

Section: )mentioning

confidence: 99%

On the (non)scalability of target media used in controlled archaeological projectile experiments

Pettigrew

Bamforth²

2022

Preprint

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When they work, controlled experiments can efficiently and clearly reveal essential characteristics of the functions and performance of ancient hunting and fighting weapons. However, homogenous target media must be carefully validated to ensure that the same variables that made weapons effective in their original application are being captured in controlled tests. Although homogenous flesh simulants have proven effective for studying firearms, the same simulants cannot be assumed to be effective when testing low velocity piercing/cutting projectiles. In fact, we build on past research showing that two flesh simulants that are commonly used by archaeologists, ballistics gelatin and pottery clay, fail to capture how atlatl darts and arrows perform when penetrating living bodies. In accord with forensic research of knife stabbing attacks, polymeric skin simulants may prove effective in future experiments, but this requires further research.

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“…We shot the hafted aluminum and stone points in the Kent State University Experimental Archaeology Laboratory following previously published equipment and procedures (see Eren et al, 2020Eren et al, , 2021bMullen et al, 2021;Sitton et al, 2020 for detailed description and pictures). We used a Gamma Master Model Shooting Chronograph to measure velocity of each projectile in meters per second (m/s) throughout the experiment (Eren et al, 2021a).…”

Section: Shooting Stone and Aluminum Pointsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Another tool in the experimental toolbox: On the use of aluminum as a substitute for chert in North American prehistoric ballistics research and beyond

Eren¹,

Mukusha²,

Lierenz³

et al. 2022

North American Archaeologist

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Experimental archaeology continues to mature methodologically and theoretically. Around the world, practitioners are increasingly using modern materials that would have been unavailable to prehistoric people in archaeological experiments. The use of a modern material substitute can offer several benefits to experimental method, design, control, replicability, feasibility, and cost, but it should be directly compared to its “traditional” analogue to understand similarities and differences. Here, aluminum is introduced as a substitute for chert in prehistoric ballistics research because, critically, aluminum is safe, inexpensive, easy to process, and it and chert possess densities that differ by less than 4%. The aluminum casting process for replicating stone artifacts is presented, and it is shown that the aluminum castings are essentially identical in form, flake-scar patterning, and mass to their stone counterparts. We then present a proof-of-concept ballistics experiment that demonstrates no difference between aluminum and stone points in terms of target penetration.

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Experimental assessment of Neo-Assyrian bronze arrowhead penetration: An initial study comparing bilobate versus trilobate morphologies

Cited by 7 publications

References 23 publications

Static penetration assessment of stone weapon tip geometry metrics and comparison of static and dynamic penetration depths

Static penetration assessment of stone weapon tip geometry metrics and comparison of static and dynamic penetration depths

On the (non)scalability of target media used in controlled archaeological projectile experiments

Another tool in the experimental toolbox: On the use of aluminum as a substitute for chert in North American prehistoric ballistics research and beyond

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