The catapult is an ancient artillery device that used the power of recovery of twisted fibers to hurl projectiles at long range. The invention of torsion artillery and siege engines has been credited to the Greeks. They were using torsion catapults from about 300 b.c.. These catapults used vast quantities of human hair twisted into skeins. There are several recorded instances of gifts between Greek cities of tons of human hair, evidence of how much was needed for these war machines.

The Romans made improvements to the catapultÕs basic design and perfected its use in battle. The simplest of the early catapults used a thick bundle of human hair or animal sinew, with one wooden beam inserted through it. Geared winches were used to twist the hair or sinew without letting it unwind. To load the catapult, soldiers manned a windlass, which pulled the beam down...