Standardised equipment or specialist groups? The role of archery aboard Mary Rose

Abstract

Contemporary records uphold medieval English archers as among the most formidable opponents in European history. Equipped with the longbow, they defeated so many French soldiers throughout the period that after the naval battle of Sluys it was said that if fish could speak, they would do so in fluent French. Yet, what we know about the weapon itself is very little, and poorer understood still is the use of the longbow as a naval weapon.
The collection of 172 longbows recovered from Henry VIII’s warship, Mary Rose, offers a unique opportunity to gain new insight into this important weapon. However, since the initial study of the bows, led by Robert Hardy, they have not been revisited, and many unanswered questions remain. Moreover, the bows have lost their maritime context; more often being discussed as examples of longbows used during the land battles of the Medieval Period, such as the ever-popular Battle of Agincourt.
Using a multidisciplinary approach, including the use of X-ray Computed Tomography, material science, and experimental archaeology, this research aimed to investigate some of the remaining questions about the longbows. Specifically focusing on the function of the longbows in terms of draw weight and range, and the tactical role of archery aboard the ship.

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ORCID for Tomas Polcar: orcid.org/0000-0002-0863-6287

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