After three months of silence on this mail thread comes my first attempt to reconstruct the ancient Egyptian sling of Lahun, Egypt. The method of my reconstruction is largely based on the description of Burgess (Journal of the Arms and Armour Society, Vol. II, No. 10, June 1958, pp. 226-230).
http://www.slinging.org/images/funda_iucunda/%C4gyptische-Schleuder2.jpgreplica of the Lahun sling 2006 (match box for comparison)
For this first attempt I used an organic string made for tying up parcels. The biological origin is not known to me. The disadvantages of this material are obvious. But I wanted to start the work and gain experience instead of wasting more time in search for the optimal flax string. Officially the string I used has a diameter of 2 mm. But actually it varies between 1,5 and 3 mm. Even with 2 mm diameter the string is much too thick to reach the diameter of 7 mm the cords of the original sling have. It has a diameter betwenn 9 and 10 mm. This thickness and stiffness of the used material caused a stiffness of the sling that surely differs much from the original one. But the over all length and the size of the pouch are nearly identical to the original sling.
My reconstruction deviates a bit from Burgess’ method to make the retention loop. Burgess passed only the centre strings of the 9 plait through the little 5-plait loop. Inspired by my own interpretation of the pictures I passed all 9 strings through this little loop with the outcome that only the tenth string keeps the retention loop from tying up. After a second and closer comparison of photos and my reconstruction I now agree with Burgess.
The release cord of the original sling is not preserved. So there are different solutions possible. Burgess recommended that each cord is made separately. So it is not too unrealistic to make the release end according to the way of making the loop (of course considering the necessary differences). I started from the end by making first a small 5 string plait with a loop and then going on with a 10 string plait. So it is virtually similar to the retention cords end but without the big loop. The advantage of this solution is that you get a tough end that would nearly never split up. But on the other hand it is not possible to get a cord that is thinner at its end than next to the pouch.
The whole work on the replica took me at least 10 hours. Especially the pouch was very laborious. I used a frame like Burgess. But after all I’m not sure whether the Egyptians made it in this complicated way. I presume that the pouch may have been made by weaving with small plates in a way that the 10 strings of the cord would be weaved forming a diamond shaped frame that then would be filled by another string of similar material and size. From the pictures of the original sling I took the impression that the weft in the centre part of the pouch is made of another material than the edges.
http://www.slinging.org/images/funda_iucunda/%C4gyptische-Schleuder1.jpgpouch, loop and the end of the release cord (replica 2006)
Another issue is the fact that Burgess plated both cords from different strings. The cords are then worked from both ends into the weft of the pouch. Though I first doubted that such a pouch made of strings coming from two sides would be strong enough I changed my mind after using it. It is tough enough not to be torn off by frequent use. But it might come out to be more elegant to make the cords and the pouch of strings going straight through over the total length of the sling.
For throwing I used egg shaped stones of a weight of about 50 to 60 g. Though the range of the sling is limited by the rather short cords the stones flew with pretty much energy about 60 to 70 m far. A problem was the fact that especially heavier stones rolled from the pouch too early, because it’s flat. I think that for this reason stones of more than 100 g are not useful.
During my throws I got the impression that the sling with an optimal stone a little bit reminded me of the ancient reliefs showing Assyrian slingers in action. May be that the Lahun sling is founded on Asian models as I read somewhere in the literature. Korfmann found out that the sling was not an original Egyptian weapon but was adopted by the Egyptians after getting in contact with the Asian cultures of Ur, Babylonia Assyria and others. So is it possible to interpret the Lahun sling as being kindred to the depicted Assyrian slings?
My future plan is to make a sling of the original material, flax. I now dispose of a flax string of a diameter of 0,7 mm. If I twist it double a 10 string plate might come close to that original diameter. The pouch I want to weave with plates by splitting the double twisted strings in order to get the figure of eight weave Burgess writes about. This method would allow as well create a release cord that becomes thinner to its end by cutting half of each string when going on plaiting the cord.
funda iucunda
