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Dear Sue, Many thanks for the link. This is very interesting. Edouard > On 19 Dec 2016, at 14:00, Sue Millard <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > http://archeryreport.com/2011/07/helical-straight-fletch-accuracy-repeatability/ explores the accuracy of > curved vs straight fletching. > > Sue > > --Sue Millard > Daw Bank, Greenholme, Tebay, Penrith, Cumbria CA10 3TA. 01539 624636. > http://www.dawbank.co.uk/ > Attached PM$, MIME and other non-readable files contain information necessary for your e-mail application to read > this message. They are not viruses and can be ignored. > > On 19 Dec 2016 at 13:08, Torstein Sjövold wrote: > >> Edouard Masson-MacLean, >> >> Although not related to Arctic/Sub-Arctic cultures, during my youth >> more than 50 years ago, it was said that for making the best >> feather-balls when playing badminton only three particular feathers >> from the left wing of gees should be used, otherwise the feather-ball >> would not get the optimum spin when playing, which also made them >> expensive. >> >> On the other hand, as I have been affiliated with the research on the >> Iceman Ötzi, in his quiver there were two fletched arrows. It was soon >> realized that the feathers were not aligned along the shaft, but >> follwed the natural curvature of the feathers in order to make the >> arrow spin to approve the accuracy when shooting. Apparently, in >> modern archery the same principle is used. Since using natural >> resources in this way goes more that 5000 years back in time it was >> certainly known when fletching arrows was a profession. Although the >> arrow tend to curve and wobble for a while when leaving the bowstring >> and pass the right side of the bow when the archer is right-handed, it >> might make a difference whether the arrow spins to the left or to the >> right. As I am personally not an expert in archery, when producing >> modern arrows with curved fletching to make the arrow spin I would >> assume that the direction of the spin is not at random. This should be >> easy for you to check at a store purchasing archery equipment or to >> contact a club dealing with traditional, or perhaps even modern, >> competiton, archery >> >> Torstein Sjøvold >> Professor emeritus in Historical osteology, >> Stockholm university >> >> ________________________________________ >> Från: Analysis of animal remains from archaeological sites >> <[log in to unmask]> för Serjeantson D. >> <[log in to unmask]> Skickat: den 19 december 2016 12:07 Till: >> [log in to unmask] Ämne: Re: predominance of left wing in avian >> remains? >> >> Dear Edouard, >> It does not sound as if your assemblage is from a literate culture but >> this is the only practical use of feathers from the left wing that I >> can think of. This is (more or less) what I said in Birds: "Quill pen, >> which were used as writing implements, were made from the primary >> feathers. Those of geese and swans are among the sturdiest, though >> feathers of other species can be used. The second and third primaries >> are best, with those from the left wing being the ideal fit for >> right-handed writers, and those from the right wing for left-handers. >> The feathers of older birds are of better quality than those of >> juveniles, and plucked feathers are better than those from slaughtered >> birds". See also Serjeantson, D. 2002. Goose husbandry in medieval >> England, and the problem of ageing goose bones. Acta Zoologica >> Cracoviensia. Proceedings of the 4th meeting of the ICAZ Bird Working >> Group, Krakow, Poland, 11-15 September, 2001. , 45, 39-54. >> >> Best, Dale >> >> >> Dale Serjeantson >> Visiting Fellow >> Archaeology >> University of Southampton >> SO17 1BF >> >> [log in to unmask] >> >> www.southampton.ac.uk/archaeology/about/staff/dale.page >> >> http://pathbrite.com/BOS >> >> >> >> >> >> From: zooarch <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> >> on behalf of Edouard Masson-MacLean >> <[log in to unmask]<mailto:00000a34ad7572ec >> [log in to unmask]>> Reply-To: Edouard Masson-MacLean >> <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> Date: >> Thursday, December 15, 2016 at 15:55 To: zooarch >> <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> Subject: >> [ZOOARCH] predominance of left wing in avian remains? >> >> Dear Zooarchs, >> >> I was wondering if anyone knew of the possible cultural value or >> technical benefits (feathers?) of the left wing in birds and gulls in >> particular among Arctic/Sub-Arctic cultures. >> >> Many thanks >> >> Edouard >> >> >> >> ----------------------------------------------------- >> Edouard Masson-MacLean >> PhD Candidate >> AHRC/LaBex Research Assistant (York Archaeological Trust / Northlight >> Heritage) Room 208 Department of Archaeology School of Geosciences >> University of Aberdeen St. Mary's, Elphinstone Road Aberdeen, AB24 3UF >> Scotland, UK >> >> ----- >> No virus found in this message. >> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com >> Version: 2016.0.7924 / Virus Database: 4739/13613 - Release Date: >> 12/19/16 >> >>