Original Composite Bow of the “Manchu” Tradition from the Collections of the Museum of Siberian Archaeology and Ethnography named after V. M. Florinsky of TSU (Tomsk).

Abstract

Purpose. The Museum of Siberian Archaeology and Ethnography at Tomsk State University named after V. M. Florinsky (Tomsk) houses a unique item belonging to the “family of Central Asian” composite bows, which has no analogues among known items in terms of its combination of design features. There is no information about the place and time of manufacture of the item, but it can be preliminarily dated to the 18th – 19th centuries. Results. The bow is recursive, the bow ears are curved towards the shot. It is equipped with a combination of plates: frontal on the handle and limbs, side on the limbs and bow ears, back on the bow ears, and also frontal “ears hooks”. The designs use technical methods of shaping and design, taking into account the peculiarities of Qing China. This is a general description of the profile: long bow ears, curved at the central part of the bow knees, and front pads that are joined by special protrusions on a wooden base. There are also design elements typical of the countries of Central Asia. These are side and back pads made of deer horn, decorated with a circular ornament, frontal “ears hooks”, birch bark pasting without bright decor. A unique feature of the product is a long groove for the distribution of limb pads, which is not found among the known authors of materials. Conclusion. As a result of the analysis, the object is interpreted as a local variant of the Manchu tradition, made under the influence of nomadic South Siberian and Central Asian cultures. This influence is reflected in the decorative features, the relatively small maximum width of the limbs, and the use of a series of plates.