Holmegaard bow
Encyclopedia
The Holmegaard bow
s are a series of self bow
s found in the bog
s of Northern Europe dating from the Mesolithic period. They are named after the Holmegaard
area of Denmark
in which the first and oldest specimens were found.
and some of the more recent examples are made of yew
. The tiller of a Holmegaard style bow is less circular than that of a Longbow
since only the inner limbs are bending.
that has a flat back and a convex belly. Many successful replicas were made in this fashion even though working the back of the bow cuts the wood fibres and endangers the bow.
Subsequent analysis suggested the back may have instead been convex with the flattened surface being the belly. This is far more efficient for woods like elm
which are relatively strong in tension. The compression strain on the belly is evenly distributed on the flat surface which reduces string follow. The yew
bows are generally thinner being better suited for thin bows than elm.
The length of the bow as well as the stiff outer limbs contribute to having a low string angle at the tips. This reduces stacking: the exponential increase in draw weight at longer draw lengths. A lower stacking bow is smoother to draw.
. However, the Holmegaard bow can often shoot an arrow faster and farther due to the light, long and stiff outer limbs that act as levers when propelling the arrow. This is the same principle that explains why a dart can be propelled faster from an Atlatl
than from throwing alone.
Holmegaard style bows are very commonly used at flight archery competitions. For flight bows, an optimum between the length of the stiff tips and the draw force of the bow is desired. If the outer limbs are too long, their weight exceeds the capacity of the energy stored in inner limbs. The outer limbs can also become unstable if made too thin. In modern Holmegaard-style bows, the outer limbs are much thicker than the inner limbs to prevent the outer limbs from bending excessively.
The original specimens were not finessed for such high performance. There is even doubt as to whether the biconvex shape of the mid-limbs is due to poor preservation in the bogs. The more recent Holmegaards do not have well defined "shoulders" at all and have more semblance to the American flatbow.
Because of the wide working limbs, Holmegaard bows can be made from more common, lower density woods such as maple
, ash, oak
and elm
.
Bow (weapon)
The bow and arrow is a projectile weapon system that predates recorded history and is common to most cultures.-Description:A bow is a flexible arc that shoots aerodynamic projectiles by means of elastic energy. Essentially, the bow is a form of spring powered by a string or cord...
s are a series of self bow
Self bow
A self bow is a bow made from a single piece of wood. Extra material such as horn nocks on the ends, or built-up handles, would normally be accepted as part of a self bow...
s found in the bog
Bog
A bog, quagmire or mire is a wetland that accumulates acidic peat, a deposit of dead plant material—often mosses or, in Arctic climates, lichens....
s of Northern Europe dating from the Mesolithic period. They are named after the Holmegaard
Holmegaard
Until January 1, 2007, Holmegaard was a municipality in Storstrøm County in the southern part of the island of Zealand in south Denmark. The municipality covered an area of 66 km², and had a total population of 7,442 . Its last mayor was Søren Dysted, a member of the Social Democrats ...
area of Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
in which the first and oldest specimens were found.
Description
The shape of the Holmegaard bows is their distinctive feature, having wide, parallel limbs and a biconvex midsection with the tips ending in a point. The handle is deep, narrow and remains stiff while the bow is drawn. The bows are generally between 150 and 170 cm in length and less than 6 cm wide. The oldest specimens are made of elmElm
Elms are deciduous and semi-deciduous trees comprising the genus Ulmus in the plant family Ulmaceae. The dozens of species are found in temperate and tropical-montane regions of North America and Eurasia, ranging southward into Indonesia. Elms are components of many kinds of natural forests...
and some of the more recent examples are made of yew
Taxus baccata
Taxus baccata is a conifer native to western, central and southern Europe, northwest Africa, northern Iran and southwest Asia. It is the tree originally known as yew, though with other related trees becoming known, it may be now known as the English yew, or European yew.-Description:It is a small-...
. The tiller of a Holmegaard style bow is less circular than that of a Longbow
Longbow
A longbow is a type of bow that is tall ; this will allow its user a fairly long draw, at least to the jaw....
since only the inner limbs are bending.
Use
Initially, the Holmegaard bows were believed to be made "backwards", that is with wood removed from the back and the belly made convex. This may be the result of a comparison with the English LongbowEnglish longbow
The English longbow, also called the Welsh longbow, is a powerful type of medieval longbow about 6 ft long used by the English and Welsh for hunting and as a weapon in medieval warfare...
that has a flat back and a convex belly. Many successful replicas were made in this fashion even though working the back of the bow cuts the wood fibres and endangers the bow.
Subsequent analysis suggested the back may have instead been convex with the flattened surface being the belly. This is far more efficient for woods like elm
Elm
Elms are deciduous and semi-deciduous trees comprising the genus Ulmus in the plant family Ulmaceae. The dozens of species are found in temperate and tropical-montane regions of North America and Eurasia, ranging southward into Indonesia. Elms are components of many kinds of natural forests...
which are relatively strong in tension. The compression strain on the belly is evenly distributed on the flat surface which reduces string follow. The yew
Taxus baccata
Taxus baccata is a conifer native to western, central and southern Europe, northwest Africa, northern Iran and southwest Asia. It is the tree originally known as yew, though with other related trees becoming known, it may be now known as the English yew, or European yew.-Description:It is a small-...
bows are generally thinner being better suited for thin bows than elm.
The length of the bow as well as the stiff outer limbs contribute to having a low string angle at the tips. This reduces stacking: the exponential increase in draw weight at longer draw lengths. A lower stacking bow is smoother to draw.
Efficiency
Due to its design, the Holmegaard bow is not as efficient as a recurved composite bowComposite bow
A composite bow is a bow made from horn, wood, and sinew laminated together. The horn is on the belly, facing the archer, and sinew on the back of a wooden core. Sinew and horn will store more energy than wood for the same length of bow...
. However, the Holmegaard bow can often shoot an arrow faster and farther due to the light, long and stiff outer limbs that act as levers when propelling the arrow. This is the same principle that explains why a dart can be propelled faster from an Atlatl
Atlatl
An atlatl or spear-thrower is a tool that uses leverage to achieve greater velocity in dart-throwing.It consists of a shaft with a cup or a spur at the end that supports and propels the butt of the dart. The atlatl is held in one hand, gripped near the end farthest from the cup...
than from throwing alone.
Holmegaard style bows are very commonly used at flight archery competitions. For flight bows, an optimum between the length of the stiff tips and the draw force of the bow is desired. If the outer limbs are too long, their weight exceeds the capacity of the energy stored in inner limbs. The outer limbs can also become unstable if made too thin. In modern Holmegaard-style bows, the outer limbs are much thicker than the inner limbs to prevent the outer limbs from bending excessively.
The original specimens were not finessed for such high performance. There is even doubt as to whether the biconvex shape of the mid-limbs is due to poor preservation in the bogs. The more recent Holmegaards do not have well defined "shoulders" at all and have more semblance to the American flatbow.
Because of the wide working limbs, Holmegaard bows can be made from more common, lower density woods such as maple
Maple
Acer is a genus of trees or shrubs commonly known as maple.Maples are variously classified in a family of their own, the Aceraceae, or together with the Hippocastanaceae included in the family Sapindaceae. Modern classifications, including the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group system, favour inclusion in...
, ash, oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
and elm
Elm
Elms are deciduous and semi-deciduous trees comprising the genus Ulmus in the plant family Ulmaceae. The dozens of species are found in temperate and tropical-montane regions of North America and Eurasia, ranging southward into Indonesia. Elms are components of many kinds of natural forests...
.