36eaa5fc   
   From: charlesanderson@optushome.com.au   
      
   Dr.Colon Oscopy wrote:   
   > I was thinking about the "middle " ages actually, however my question   
   > is not so much about a particular point in history rather what damaged   
   > blades would reveal historically, forensically.  For instance might   
   > damage reveal how or what type of fight or battle was waged one on   
   > one?  Would the damage contribute to an understanding of what type of   
   > weapons and tactics the enemy was using?  That sort of perspective.   
   > Also what was done with "used" blades after battle?  If you have a   
   > site you could point me to that might show or answer some of these   
   > questions, would be great, thanks...................Doc   
      
   The middle ages (I'm assuming Europe)is a really big period of history.   
      
   Damage caused by weapons is best done by examining bodies.   
      
   "The Armour from the Battle of Wisby", is an excellent resource for   
   looking at battle damage caused by non-powder weapons.   
      
    From the forensic evidence of the mass grave at Wisby (pronounced   
   "Visby"), we can see that there were a lot of cross bow bolt wounds to   
   the top of the head.  This indicates that the bolts were clout shot   
   (meaning that they were fired into a steep arc, and almost falling   
   vertically onto their targets.   
      
   Also from this mass grave, it appears that after the volley of bolts,   
   the rest of the "fat merchants" were finished up by people wielding two   
   handed swords, as a lot of the bodies have had both legs amputated at   
   thigh height.  It was determined that the legs were mostly removed in   
   one hit.   
      
   ---   
      
   Unfortunately you can't really tell how a sword was used by its damage.   
     All you can tell is that it was damaged.   
      
   Used blades were either recycled or buried with the owner, or simply   
   discarded.   
      
   If we're lucky we can find a "lost" weapon on a battle field.  Usually   
   we refer to documentation.   
      
   ---   
      
   For this kind of research it's better to refer to books, as the internet   
   is very unreliable for this kind of information.   
      
   Go to you library, and read a book, it will get you away from the   
   computer, and you'll get some fresh air ;-)   
      
      
   Regards Charles   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)