The Historical Development of the Charkh (Crossbow): A Charkh Nut and Bolt Head from the Kubadabad Palace Excavations

Abstract

It is possible to state that the bow and arrow is one of the earliest and longest-used weapons in the history of warfare. Even the smallest innovation in this simple yet effective military apparatus had a direct impact on the course of battles. These innovations could manifest as the revision of existing components or as new shooting techniques providing tactical advantages. The most significant evolution in bow technology began with the invention of the crossbow (hand-held stock bows). This lethal new weapon, known as qavs al-yad (hand bow), qavs al-rijl (foot bow) in Arabic, and charkh in Persian, featured a system capable of launching heavier projectiles over longer distances than traditional bows. While Western literature –where the weapon is known as the “Crossbow” or “Arbalest”– generally accepts China as its place of origin, although Western sources claim that the charkh was unknown in the Islamic world before the 14^th century, this weapon has been mentioned under various names in military treatises in this field since the 11^th century. The primary components of a charkh consist of the trigger, the nut (revolving nut) attached to the trigger, the stock (tiller) where the bow rests, the stirrup used for spanning the bow with the foot and the bow itself. Although numerous bolt heads have been found in excavations of Medieval Anatolia, no complete example of specific mechanical parts of the weapon had been recovered until recently. The Kubadabad Palace, an Anatolian Seljuk residence on the western shore of Lake Beyşehir, has provided the most unique data regarding medieval Turkish material culture for over forty years. A bone object discovered during the Kubadabad Palace excavations has been identified as a nut belonging to charkh trigger mechanism, similar to examples found in Europe. The object represents the first charkh nut ever found in Medieval Anatolian excavations. This study introduces the bolt head and the nut found at Kubadabad with detailed illustrations, while providing an in-depth analysis of the historical development and typologies of the charkh.