NYDAM TO HASTINGS

Bows and arrows were widely used as weapons of war and hunting in the Middle Ages. Considering the massive numbers in which they must have been produced over a period of roughly 1,000 years, they left very little archaeological trace. For one, they were made of perishable natural materials; secondly, unlike swords, armour, or even finely decorated hunting crossbows, they were relatively easily, quickly, and cheaply produced and hence simply discarded when no longer of use. This is especially true for the millions of arrows whose life span was generally rather short.

The early Middle Ages in particular, from about 500 to 1000 AD, are notoriously lacking in written sources on archery and its materials, and illustrations tend to be schematic rather than detailed depictions. Nevertheless this article will attempt to sum up our knowledge on early medieval arrows.

The part of an arrow most likely to survive the ages is the arrowhead, which was mainly made from iron. Examples are preserved in great enough numbers and variety of shapes to typologise them, analyse their means of manufacture, date them, and sometimes attribute them to specific cultures.

Wooden shafts or fletchings can only be preserved in very special, sealed off conditions. With the spread of Christianity throughout Europe, it also became uncommon to bury the dead with a