Tree bark as a belly material in 5-curve bows

[Digital Caveman]

Hannibal or Cannibal?  That makes for a strange handle, but what does the inner smile have to do with it?

However, some people here think he was invented by Tom Dunley, not Tom Harris.

Got to say though, he certainly would be a lousy killer with the kind of weapons he's been posting. 

[willie]

Hey guys,


https://www.google.com/books/edition/Masters_of_the_Steppe_The_Impact_of_the/W6MWEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=fruit+tree+bark+bow+scythian&pg=PA110&printsec=frontcover



^ In the above link the author describes a European Scythian reflex-deflex bow that uses fruit tree bark (apple or pear) as a belly material. It had an oak wood core and was backed with sinew. I never heard of anyone using tree bark as a belly material before. What are the properties like? This bow has hornbow-tier morphology and is extremely short. Have we been sleeping on pear bark as a belly material?

Tom,
the quoted article does not say the bowyer used bark. It was mentioned as a possibilty between bark and wood. From the acknowlegement, the species was determined at a university in the Ukraine. Perhaps the the tests could not differienate between bark and wood? The author does not seem to make any assumptions. But if it was bark like you say, show us something substantial, otherwise I would prefer to go with apple or pear wood.

BTW, is this an Ad Hominem response?

You don't understand what you're talking about.