On the (non)scalability of target media used in controlled archaeological projectile experiments

Abstract When they work, controlled experiments can efficiently and clearly reveal essential characteristics of the functions and performance of ancient hunting and fighting weapons. However, homogenous target media must be carefully validated to ensure that the same variables that made weapons effective in their original application are being captured in controlled tests. Although homogenous flesh simulants have proven effective for studying firearms, the same simulants cannot be assumed to be effective when testing low velocity piercing/cutting projectiles. In fact, we build on past research showing that two flesh simulants that are commonly used by archaeologists, ballistics gelatin and pottery clay, fail to capture how atlatl darts and arrows perform when penetrating living bodies. In accord with forensic research of knife stabbing attacks, polymeric skin simulants may prove effective in future experiments, but this requires further research.