Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Archers.

This is coolbert:

A more or less ancient [over 2,000 years old] and complete crossbow has been uncovered during the continuing excavation of the Chinese terracotta army.

"The most complete ancient crossbow unearthed with terracotta army"

"A view of a complete crossbow relic found during the third excavation of the number one pit of the Qin [Chin] terracotta warriors and horses in Xi'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi province . . . Archaeologists have recently discovered the most complete ancient crossbow to date in the terracotta army pit one in Xi'an, Shaanxi province."


Normally organic objects made of wood and fiber material 2,000 years old not found intact or even if found at all merely in fragments, archaeological evidence of this sort very rare. 


From the terracotta army exhibit an original figure as unearthed and on display at the museum in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. That figure described as a "standing archer" more correctly understood as a man wielding a crossbow.


For a sense of scale and perspective this woman shown next to replica terracotta figures, also holding a crossbow of about the same size as the weapon just unearthed.

"Among hundreds of pieces of crossbows unearthed in the past, this one is said to be the best-preserved in general, with a 145cm arch and a 130cm bow string. The bow string has a smooth surface which experts believe to be made from animal tendon instead of fabric and the trigger mechanism is made of bronze"

. . . .

"The best crossbows' shooting range could double that of an AK47, reaching almost 800m [maximum EFFECTIVE range for the AK and not maximum range]"

The burial tomb of the Qin [Chin] Emperor yet to be uncovered. A man-made "Wonder of the World" yet awaits the archaeologists.

coolbert.

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