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Details
LOT 1137
Medieval Iron Crossbow Bolt Group
CIRCA 12TH-15TH CENTURY A.D.
1 3/4 - 4 5/8 in. (682 grams total, 4.6-11.7 cm).
Mainly comprising socketted bolts with tapering and facetted square-section tips. [20]
Provenance
Acquired 1990s-early 2000s.
East Anglian private collection.
Literature
Cf. Michalak, A., Arma confinii, przemiany późnośredniowiecznej broni na rubieżach Śląska, Wielkopolski, Branderburgii i Łużyc (Arma confinii, transformations of late medieval weapons on the borders of Silesia, Wielkopolska, Brandenburg and Lusatia, in Polish), Zielona Gora, 2019, pls.92-128, for similar projectiles.
Footnotes
In medieval warfare crossbows were of great importance, used especially by infantry. An improvement of their effectiveness by inceasing the weight of projectiles as well the strength of the bow caused a clear evolution of body defences between 13th and 15th centuries A.D.
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