Scientific Reports

Examination of wood fragments found on arrowheads

The following wood fragments, found on arrowheads were analysed by the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) by Michael Grabner and his team E. Wächter and S. Nemestothy, together with Mathias Mehofer from the Vienna Institut of Archaeological Science (VIAS) and Thomas Koch Waldner (CATA):

File 326/1998, Industriegelände Inzersdorf-Getzersdorf, KG Walpersdorf, Verf 144, Pl 3, Fn 13

In grave 144 from Walpersdorf, a single arrowhead (Fnr. 8) was observed next to the right shoulder and a bundle of iron arrowheads (Fnr. 13) next to the deceased's right hip. The burial is orientated approximately SW-NE and contains the skeleton of a 30-35-year-old man. A large ceramic vessel was found next to the left elbow, an iron chopping knife and animal bones next to the left hip. By the feet a ceramic fragment and an iron clamp was situated. On the right side (in addition to the arrowheads), a bronze brooch on the shoulder and a perforated iron belt hook could be observed. Organic material could be seen on the arrowheads, which was interpreted as the remains of the arrow shafts.

In a first step, 6 pieces with the best state of preservation were selected and investigated under the REM. It was not possible to determine the exact type of wood.
But based on the assumption that all arrow shafts were made of the same type of wood, the following statements can be made:
1) Clearly dispersed-pored hardwood
2) With the correct interpretation of a ladder-shaped perforation and the presence of aggregate
rays, it can be assumed that the wood species is hazel (Corylus spp.).