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Making a Bow
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The first step is to take a few long straight branches from a green nut tree from the valley of the fossils and leave them to dry for over a month, with a heavy weight over them, to make the curve for the future bow.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 5th April 2008
It should be realised that the object is not to make a "replica" ancient weapon or tool. The object is to understand the mind of our ancestors and to try to understand their methods.
After drying for two months two tree branches taken from a nut tree, we now put the two branches beside each other, but with the butt of one against the head of the other in order to keep the bow as symmetrical as possible, to obtain a compensation for the inevitable narrowing along the length of the branch. The two branches also create a much stronger bow.
Alina now puts a cord around the two branches to make them a single unit, so that they may be used to fire arrows.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 14th July 2008
This image shows Adrian painting adhesive over the cord and the branches, to make the branch and cord combination to be a single strong wooden piece for the future bow. It should be realised that we do not know if this was the method used, but if Adrian was one of these people, this is the method he would use.
It is now necessary to wait a few days to dry the adhesive, which a former archer could have obtained, perhaps, from tree resin.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 14th July 2008
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Alexis Project Filiasi/Romania
RC J/263/230/2007 CIF 21464151
Email: [email protected]