Newly Discovered Medieval Longbow Found to Have Same Chrysals as Every Modern Bowyer's First Attempt

A 14th-century English longbow recovered from a peat bog in Somerset has been found to exhibit the exact same tillering errors, compression fractures, and set that characterize the first bow of virtually every modern hobbyist bowyer, according to a joint study by the University of Bristol and the Society of Traditional Bowyers. 'We expected to find a masterwork,' said lead archaeologist Dr. Philip Stringer. 'What we found was a bow that was clearly made by someone who was also figuring it out as they went along. There are chrysals on the belly, the tiller is uneven, and it's taken about two inches of set.' The discovery has sent waves of relief through the bowmaking community. 'You mean to tell me that a medieval English bowyer -- someone who literally made bows for a living -- also couldn't get the tiller right on his first try?' said amateur bowyer Glen Heartwood, wiping his eyes. 'This is the most validating thing I've ever heard.' Further analysis revealed tool marks consistent with overcorrection -- a pattern modern bowyers know intimately, where removing wood from one limb to fix the tiller leads to removing too much from the other limb, resulting in what the study calls 'an escalating cycle of bilateral regret.' The bow also shows evidence of a handle wrap that appears to have been applied to cover a knot the maker could not work around. 'Same,' said every bowyer interviewed for this article. The longbow is now on display at the Museum of Somerset, where it has become the most popular exhibit. Visitor comments include 'I feel seen' and 'my first bow looked exactly like this.'