Arrow Tip for a Crossbow Bolt

ARROW TIP FOR A CROSSBOW BOLT

Probably Han dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE)
Reportedly discovered in Gushi County, Henan province
Inventory number: XLIX:I:A.h.05.

The central length of this arrow tip is the thickest part of the object in order to reinforce its sturdiness. The blade forks from either side of the body at the middle, creating two barbs. A tang, which probably would originally have been longer, extends from the base of the tip. It would have slotted into a wood or bamboo shaft. The arrow tip may have been tinned, which helps to keep the blade sharp and prevent the bronze from corroding. The barbed shape of this arrow tip can fit snuggly into the grooves on top of crossbow trigger mechanisms such as the one in the previous image.