Benjamin H. Abbott wrote: |
The first paper by Murray and company is fascinating because of how poorly the ancient replica javelin performed compared with modern sporting javelins. The athletes threw the 450g replica 33-50m by hand while they could throw the 800g sporting javelins 60-70m! Even with the ankyle they only managed 56-66m.
In a vacuum you'd need around 23 m/s to throw a javelin 50m at the typical 30ish-degree release angle. That'd only be about 120 J. Around 27 m/s for the 66m throw with the ankyle would be roughly 160 J. By contrast a 70m throw with a 800g modern javelin would be approximately 300 J. Of course, given the apparent worse aerodynamic properties of the wooden replica, the energy figures would likely be higher than in vacuum, while with the modern javelins they might be slight lower. Thanks for sharing that study. I do wonder if differently designed replica javelins would have performed better - perhaps stiffer and/or thicker wood, etc. If Irish darts had similar kinetic energy and range (120-180J and 50-70m) then I can see 16th-century English observers didn't find them particularly impressive. |
I think it is safe to assume you wanted either Javelins with some weight or having them more tip heavy for penetration power as they move downwards?
Both very light javelins and sport javelins are not very tip heavy, so their downward curve are not very prominent.
Modern Javelin (Nemeth) spear is actually designed so you can't throw them so far after east german Uwe Hohn tossed the old one 104,8 meter in 1984. (the old one had the problem of landing flat giving almost no mark to register).
Probably it gives to slightly different optimum throwing techniques (differences in angle).
What I don't understand is with the wooden spear thrower went out of use, since it is quite efficient from a standing position (don't need running). Maybe the simple answer is number of missiles. You can carry more arrows easily than javelin?
Also perhaps since javelins for spear throwers are flexible and behaves like an arrow in flight? So it limit the mass of the javelin and is basically the same as bow and arrow.
With a heavy javelin the shaft is stiff during flight and will penetrate better and the javelin can be made much heavier......