Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Arrows => Topic started by: JackCrafty on February 01, 2008, 04:12:59 pm

Title: Ozti's Arrows
Post by: JackCrafty on February 01, 2008, 04:12:59 pm

When I did a search on this forum for "Otzi" I only found two posts.....and the "ice-man" and his equipment aren't even discussed.
 (maybe I should look into back issues of PA?)

Anyway, I'm curious to see what you guys know about Otzi's arrows.  Here is what I've learned (from internet articles):

- Viburnum arrows with "mystery" wood (or bone?) foreshafts.
- Flint points....small, leaf-shaped (?).
- Birch tar glue for fletching and points......(anyone know where to get or how to make this stuff???)
- Nock dimmensions: 4mm x 12mm deep.
- Total length (I think this was mentioned...but I can't remember)

That's it.  Seems like there would be a lot more info....such as:

- Weight of arrows?
- Tapered, barrelled, or parallel shafts?  (they seem to be barrelled in the pictures I've seen)
- Diameters?  (I think there was an article with these dimensions....but I don't have my notes right now)
- Painted? Waxed?...what kind of finish?
- Where was the blood on the arrows? Tips only?  Near the base (where it would be held by a bloody hand)?
- Smooth shafts?  Bite marks?  Channels or grooves?
- Length of fletching?  Type of feather? Two, three or four fletch?
- Sinew, cord, gut, or rawhide wrappings?
- Evidence of fire hardening of the shafts/foreshafts?
- Evidence of heat treated flint?
- Evidence of copper residue on arrowhead (indicating copper knapping tool)?
- Do the arrows match each other closely in weight?  (this might not be possible to measure due to deterioration)
- Arrowhead slots lined up with nock?

And what about his quiver?  I've seen a couple pictures and it looks like a soft leather case with a wood rod stiffener and a very narrow carrying strap?

 :-\

Title: Re: Ozti's Arrows
Post by: Pat B on February 01, 2008, 04:39:02 pm

There is an exhibit at the Natural History Museum in Washington. I was there Thanksgivingweek and here are a few pics from their exhibit. You might be able to go to their website for more or better pics. These things are reproductions.     Pat

[attachment deleted by admin]

Title: Re: Ozti's Arrows
Post by: DanaM on February 01, 2008, 05:04:17 pm

Bears a striking resemblence to ya Pat, an ancestor perhaps ;D

Title: Re: Ozti's Arrows
Post by: JackCrafty on February 01, 2008, 05:15:17 pm

Pat, nice photos!

Looked up their website and searched for "Otzi"........got an article on tattooing throughout history.  Did a search for "ice-man" and zippo...nada.

Nice photos, though (yours, that is)..... ;D

Title: Re: Ozti's Arrows
Post by: wolfsire on February 01, 2008, 05:26:35 pm

fiddler49 has mas birch bark tar.  I think I read that the bar is boiled.


http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/topic/14738/t/bubble-gum-for-hafting-arrow-heads.html

Title: Re: Ozti's Arrows
Post by: Radon on February 01, 2008, 05:45:13 pm

On this website is lots of information about Ötzis arrows: http://www.landschaftsmuseum.de/Seiten/Lexikon/Pfeil_Bogen-Oetzi.htm (http://www.landschaftsmuseum.de/Seiten/Lexikon/Pfeil_Bogen-Oetzi.htm) (unfortunately only in German )

It says about the arrows:
The quiver on which the covering hood and the carrying belt were missing, contained two finnished arrows and twleve raw shafts of 84 to 87 cm (33 1/2 - 34 3/4") length made from viburnum. The two arrowheads werde made from silex and fixed with birchtare and a threadwrapping to the shafts. One had a foreshaft from cornus. Of the radialfletching from three duckfeathers are still remains on the shafts.
Here's a pic:
(http://www.landschaftsmuseum.de/Bilder/Oetzi-Pfeile_Koecher-2.jpg)

Stefan

Title: Re: Ozti's Arrows
Post by: JackCrafty on February 01, 2008, 06:13:06 pm

OK....looks like the grass is greener on the paleo side of the fence.....so I checked out Fiddler's birch tar.  Mystery solved.

Thanks Wolfsire!

Next:

Arrow length 34" (or there abouts)
Foreshaft of "cornus".  (Cornus is dogwood).
Three feather fletch, duck feathers (probably 4"-5" in length - also looks to be "spiral" wrapped)

Thanks Radon!

 :)

Title: Re: Ozti's Arrows
Post by: zLego on February 02, 2008, 07:04:33 am

http://www.nhm-wien.ac.at/Content.Node/museum/index1.html

The Natural History Museum,  Vienna, 2006 december:

Large pics:

http://kepfeltoltes.hu/080202/dscf0115_www.kepfeltoltes.hu_.jpg
http://kepfeltoltes.hu/080202/dscf0116_www.kepfeltoltes.hu_.jpg
http://kepfeltoltes.hu/080202/dscf0117_www.kepfeltoltes.hu_.jpg
http://kepfeltoltes.hu/080202/dscf0118_www.kepfeltoltes.hu_.jpg



[attachment deleted by admin]

Title: Re: Ozti's Arrows
Post by: zLego on February 02, 2008, 07:10:52 am

Large pics:

http://kepfeltoltes.hu/080202/dscf0119_www.kepfeltoltes.hu_.jpg
http://kepfeltoltes.hu/080202/dscf0120_www.kepfeltoltes.hu_.jpg
http://kepfeltoltes.hu/080202/dscf0126_www.kepfeltoltes.hu_.jpg
http://kepfeltoltes.hu/080202/dscf0127_www.kepfeltoltes.hu_.jpg

[attachment deleted by admin]