**Collection:** Prehistory and Historical Archeology Dept. **Inv.-No.:** [MA-183](https://www.online.landessammlungen-noe.at/objects/1221738) **Material:** Iron **Dimensions:** 18,6 x 5,4 cm **Dating:** 1025 - 1701 CE The artefact is a pair of hand-forged iron bow shears. In the High Middle Ages, single-piece bow shears, whose use has been documented since the Bronze Age, were the most widely used. The shears were forged from a single piece of iron and featured an elastic, ring-shaped tension spring that enabled the blades to move against each other. Shears of varying dimensions were utilised for diverse applications. The utilisation of these tools was prevalent in two distinct domains: firstly, in the field of animal husbandry, particularly in the practice of shearing sheep; and secondly, in the context of textile processing, notably in the cutting of fabrics. This object was digitized through the ‘Kulturerbe digital’ program of the Federal Ministry for Arts, Culture, Public Service and Sport.