A 2,200-year-old crossbow was unearthed among the Terracotta Warriors last month, and some experts believe that it could have been almost twice as powerful as a modern day assault rifle.
The crossbow is the only one to date that has been found intact, and it has been reported that it could have shot an arrow up to 2,600 feet, which is nearly 800 metres. This is around double the range of an AK47, which is about 1,300 feet.
The bow measures five feet long, and is just over four feet tall, and it is believed that due to its size, it is one of the most powerful bows of its era. Experts are hoping this crossbow could hold the secret to why the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, was so successful on the battlefield.
The crossbow was found half buried next to one of the statues, and archaeologists were delighted to find it in one piece, unlike the previous ten that have been unearthed, only to find they were broken.
It has been said that analysis of a number of historical texts have shown that the crossbow played a key part in a number of military victories during the Qin dynasty.
Archaeologists were also extremely excited about the discovery of “Qing”, which they had previously only read about in texts.
Qing was two wooden sticks that were used alongside the transportation of the crossbow, and it was previously unknown what it was used for. Thanks to this discovery, it is believed the sticks were used to hang up ropes that were fastened to the crossbow, which helped it keep its shape during transportation, or when it wasn’t in use.
Here at Surplus Store, we have a range of crossbows and accessories, alongside other bows in our online archery store, all at more manageable sizes than the crossbow mentioned above! So whilst you are on our website, why not take a look?
Photo courtesy of Walter Wilhelm, under Creative Commons
2,000-year-old crossbow twice as powerful as assault rifle
Search
Recent Comments
- Ben Austin on Problem with your air gun or airsoft gear? We can help!
- Dan K on Problem with your air gun or airsoft gear? We can help!
- Dan K on Brand Profile: AGM
- David Robinson on Problem with your air gun or airsoft gear? We can help!
- Steve on Brand Profile: AGM
Archives
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
Categories
- Air Guns (105)
- Air Pistol (58)
- Air Rifle (96)
- Airsoft (253)
- Ammunition (13)
- Archery (10)
- BB Guns (40)
- Blank Firing Guns (1)
- Body Armour (13)
- Charlize Theron
- Clothing (17)
- CO2 Air Pistol (9)
- Deactivated Guns (7)
- Equipment & Accessories (15)
- Events (20)
- Film (41)
- Gaming (18)
- Grenades (3)
- Help Guide (68)
- History (88)
- James Bond (12)
- Knives (31)
- Mad Max: Fury Road
- Military (108)
- New Arrivals (15)
- News (182)
- Paintball (4)
- Pellet Gun (4)
- Quiz (1)
- Replica Guns (17)
- Spy Guns (8)
- Surplus Store (105)
- Survival (31)
- Target Shooting (17)
- Throwing Knives (3)
- Tom Hardy
- TV (9)
- Uncategorized (24)
- Video (23)
- Video Games (2)
- Zombies (9)