Woods Used in Egyptian Bows and Arrows

Abstract

Presentation of the results of botanical analyses of wood from ancient Egyptian bows and arrows in the collections of four museums, together with comments on the possible sources of the timbers, their qualities and some of their other uses. Most of the pieces (including all the bow fragments) came from indigenous trees. Five arrows made from imported wood are dated to the Twenty-sixth Dynasty, but three others, also imports, are assigned to the Protodynastic Period.

Prehistoric wooden bows and arrows in the Turpan Basin, Northwest China: Wood selection and utilization in a mosaic landscape

“…Spruce wood has a high stiffness-density ratio and was used throughout its geographic range to make arrows (Alix et al, 2012). Using conifers for arrows was widely accepted, not only in cold regions but also in dry regions such as ancient Egypt (pine arrows) (Western & McLeod, 1995).…”

“…Other examples can also be found in both Old and New World ethnographic studies, providing detailed information on local wood exploitation, or revealing early trade practices in exotic woody species (e.g. Hamm, 2019;Peacock et al, 2003;Smith, 2019;Western & McLeod, 1995).…”