The important role of bow choice and arrow fletching in projectile experimentation. A ballistic approach

Projectile experiments are regularly performed in prehistoric studies, but few studies try to control the ballistic behaviour of the propulsion system used. The ballistic behaviour of a weapon is determined by different variables. In the case of bow-and-arrow technology, important variables are the spine, the weight and the fletching of an arrow, next to the draw weight of the bow, its morphology and the materials used for its manufacture. Ballistic experiments are essential to understand the impact of each variable while using different combinations of bow and arrow. We present the results of ballistic experiments focussed on the impact of fletching and bow choice on an arrow’s behaviour. Measurements of the kinetic energy along the flight trajectory of different types of arrows show their highly variable behaviour depending on the type of fletching and the type of bow used. The results demonstrate (1) the importance of an informed choice of the bow and arrow combination used in projectile experiments to guarantee reliability and (2) the necessity to master the physical laws that are controlling weapon systems.