On an arrow drawing method of medieval nomads in Central and Innermost Asia

Purpose. Arrow drawing methods practiced by medieval nomads in Central and Innermost Asia are little explored in the research of steppe archery. Archer accessories being one of the permanent objects of grave items, there have been no items found in nomadic burials related to arrow drawing. However, written sources and miniature paintings of Central and Innermost Asia, e.g. Iran in High and Late Middle Ages, contain interesting data on arrow drawing methods. Such sources have not been considered by weaponologists yet, so the author introduces them as a source for analysis. The purpose of this paper is to compile and analyze these data in order to identify the arrow drawing technique practiced by medieval nomads of Central and Innermost Asia. Results. There are five principal arrow drawing methods originally discovered by E. S. Morse on the basis of ethnographic and pictorial sources. The method ensuring the strongest grasp, which is the main concern of the paper, is so-called «Mongolian». The bowstring is drawn by a bent thumb, with the forefinger (or the forefinger and middle finger) pressing on the thumb and reinforcing the hold. Archers would use a special protective device made of bone, horn, stone, metal or leather to shield the thumb against the pressure and attrition of the bowstring. However, such devices are not known to be found in numerous medieval nomadic burials of Central and Innermost Asia. Does it mean that the steppe «centaurs» practiced a different method of arrow drawing? The purposeful studies of the written sources and miniature paintings revealed that medieval nomadic archers of Central and Innermost Asia drew a bow with their thumb. Interesting allusions on the subject are contained in such Mongolian chronicles as «The secret history of Mongols» and «Golden history» by Altan Tobchi. For example, Jochi’s angry words toward his brother Chagatai in «The secret history of Mongols» are revealing the subject matter: «…If you beat me in long-distance arrow shooting, I will cut off my thumb and cast it away. If you defeat me in wrestling, I will not rise from the ground where I fall…». But the most interesting and instructive information on the matter is contained in Rashid al-Din’s «World history»: «There is a custom among Mongols to smear with meat and fat the thumb of the boy, who goes hunting first time…». Judging by some references in written sources, the thumb technique was typical for Central Asian nomads both before and after the Mongol invasion. The corresponding note appears in the chronicle of Ibn al-Athir. According to the author, when Mahmud of Ghazni asked his confidants what to do with Seljuk captives, one of them «suggested to cut off their thumbs so that they could not shoot a bow or drown them in the Jayḥun (river)». Another historian at the court of Shaybani khan in the XVI century while praising hospitality of Turkestan inhabitants reports: «…if there is a need for meat, a host immediately takes his bow and several arrows and goes hunting in order to make dinner for the guest. He would head off to steppe and with his masterful thumb he would make a fat kulan the target of his hunting arrow». Persian and Central Asian miniature paintings also enlighten the matter by adding evidences. Although most miniatures preclude from making accurate conclusions on bow drawing method of the bowman pictured, they testify that not only shooting without any thumb guard was possible, but most of the archers did not use any protective devices for their thumb and other fingers of the drawing hand. Conclusion. The data of written, pictorial and archaeological sources support the view that nomadic population of Central and Innermost Asia drew the bow with their bent thumb, which is known as a «Mongolian» draw. They largely used thumb guards made of leather rather than those made of hard materials. However, most of the steppe «centaurs» shot a bow without any protective devices on their thumb since by dint of intense practice their fingers got calloused, thus enabling their fingers endure the pressure and attrition of the bowstring.