Sub-Roman Britain (Cavalry etc)

[Alanus]

Has anyone yet established if the British used bows on horseback?

Hi Vortigern Studies,

The horn siyah-piece pictured in Webster is identical to my "Roman bow" built by Grozer, who apparently had authentic material as a guide. But this would be only connected to Roman Britain, not sub-Roman Britain. I have a picture of a horseman with recurved bow taken from a late Romano-British mosaic (perhaps 4th century); but the bow looks Scythian even though the rider could be British or Roman. (He wears boots.) I think the depiction is nothing more than artistic convention and proves nothing, one way or the other.

I'm not saying that the sub-Roman British DIDN'T use bows, but there's no hard evidence... as of yet. This type of bow was well-built, the glue nearly water-proof when cured; and with adequate care, it might remain usable for generations. But it appears not to be common. Perhaps an "anomalous" weapon. :?

Hi Ron,

What's interesting about that stone-carved picture is the way the cavalryman is holding his javelin. I would imagine that any member of the present Equites Taifali would use it in the same manner. The "lancea" carried by Morgan's man (Cadoc records, mentioned earlier) would be this type of weapon, rather than a full-lengthed contus.

So what are we looking at for a sub-Roman cavalry style? :?: