Bowmen were the “artillery” of the early Middle Ages, and could be used effectively out to a range of about 200 metres. Like most cutting and stabbing weapons the bow had evolved, and remained in daily use, as a weapon for hunting, but it could equally be used in war. Bows were made of yew, ash or elm and ranged from about 1.6 to 2m (5.2 to 6.5 ft )in length . A good example of a Viking bow was found during the excavations at Haithabu. It is of yew, 1.915m (6.2ft) long, and has a “draw weight”of 40.8kg (901bs); similar bows made of elm were also found at Haithabu. Apparently some bows had a reinforcing wrapping of linen, leather, or even strips of sinew. The finds at Haithabu also included arrows. The shafts were apparently 70cm-80cm (27.5ins-31.5ins) in length and 8mm-10mm (0.31in-0.39in) in diameter, and already carried the three-feather fletchings which stabilise an arrow's flight by spinning it. Apart from blunt wooden tips as
usedfor practice and for hunting small game a wide variety of iron arrowheads
have been found all over Europe, as different in shape as their intended use requires. Among many other shapes there are long, narrow heads which could pierce mail, and others with heads divided to carry plugs of burning tow or other inflammable materials.
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