Crossbow BAH1996-2111a from Galleon Santa Clara3D Model
This bow, or prod, from a crossbow is one of nine recovered from the wreck of the Spanish galleon Santa Clara of 1564. The 56 centimeter bow is set into an iron bracket that fit over the forward end of the wooden stock to reinforce the wood. With the advent of firearms, crossbows were becoming obsolete in the mid-to-late 1500’s, but at sea, where they were particularly resilient against the harsh marine environment, they were used for a bit longer. This piece is an epoxy resin cast made from the calcareous concretion mold that formed around the original steel bow. (The metal had completely corroded underwater and did not survive, but the resin cast is an exact duplicate of the original.) The bow’s wooden stock was consumed by shipworms while underwater and did not survive, but crossbow cocking mechanisms, triggers, and iron arrow points were found on the wreck.
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