Oddly enough
As I recall, the article said the development of the crossbow awaited technology. They needed wood with strength in compression, and strength in tension bonded well. That was two different kinds of wood glued together.
For centuries the only really good glue for this was made from the mouths of Russian sturgeons.
It didn't say how someone invented glue from the scrapings of Russian sturgeons mouths. To my way of thinking it ranks with the first guy who ate an oyster, etc.
Arf