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/
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> 
> 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
>> 
>> -----
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