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AnotherWarGamer t1_ixtf0ai wrote

Reply to comment by iHateCoding7 in ELI5: How are archers “efficient” in combat? by Environmental_Point3

200 lb draw weight was quite common. Skeletons of archers were are deformed from pulling a heavy bow back over and over again. When the arrow hits an apple it explodes.

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Fat_IRL t1_ixttiia wrote

I'd like to see a couple sources for that. If it was so common.

Yes archers were deformed but 200 pound draw is just insane to me. No fucking way.

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YellsAtGoats t1_ixy4m5j wrote

I'm an amateur historian and archer. You're right, 200 was not all that common. 100-150 was typical.

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SideWinderSyd t1_ixty5hx wrote

What does deformed mean here? I thought bones were pretty rigid and arrow shooters would only gain more muscle? I could imagine the muscle being unequal when comparing both halves of the body.

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FencingCatBoots t1_ixtysv3 wrote

Your bones are constantly being broken down and built up! For an archer, that’s a lot of force on the skeleton in a very asymmetric way, meaning there’s tell tale differences in their bones.

https://kriii.com/english-bowmen/

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SideWinderSyd t1_ixtzc1m wrote

Thanks so much for the link - TIL!

And I just realised the modern equivalent would be people carrying shoulder bags or single strap bags. There's a difference in their gait, muscle structure and bones too.

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FencingCatBoots t1_iy32sw0 wrote

That’s a really good analogy that I’ll have to steal! Like a 65kg shoulder bag on only one shoulder for a few hours every day

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SideWinderSyd t1_iy42873 wrote

Thanks! And yeah, please do share it around! I've seen so many students office workers whose gait have been affected by heavy schoolbags (also because single strap looks cool).

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