Robin Hood’s Arrow Found in Sherwood Forest?

Of course not. But that’s what this guy is claiming, no doubt suitably egged-on by The Sun. It probably is an arrowhead, or maybe a crossbow bolt head, and it may well be medieval in date and so is a really nice find. The coincidence of it being found in Sherwood Forest is obviously fun, but to suggest that it’s somehow either evidence of the existence of Robin Hood or that the existence of Robin Hood as an historical figure means that this is his… Well that’s just absurd. Robin Hood did not exist. He is an archetypical character from English folklore. More ‘Bullshit’ than “Bullseye”, The Sun.

Also, it certainly isn’t made of silver. I’m perplexed as to why they think it is, or how that’s relevant to the Robin Hood myth. It does look to have a blackish patina, and silver does tarnish black, so perhaps that’s why. But there is visible iron oxide rust at the socket, and it’s… magnetic. Which is how he claims to have found it. Using a magnet. Silver is famously not a ferrous metal. OK, it could be silver-plated, but a) why bother, and b) the metal looks homogenous; there’s no sign of a hammered-on outer layer.

An absolutely ridiculous story salvaged only by the fact that it’s a genuine archaeological artefact. The rest is nonsense, however. Also, who the hell proof-reads this crap? “it’s authenticity”? “Historians believe to silver arrow could belong to Robin Hood”?

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