The Antikythera Crossbow of Ancient China
600 BCE – 200 CE
The ancient Chinese crossbow, developed during the Warring States period (475–221 BCE), featured a bronze trigger mechanism of extraordinary precision — a three-part interlocking system that held the string under tension and released it cleanly with minimal friction. The mechanism is so well-engineered that it was not improved upon for 1,500 years. The Emperor Qin Shi Huang's terracotta army was equipped with crossbows, and the bronze trigger mechanisms found in the pits are still functional today.