About the Invention of the Bow & Arrow

It's difficult to pinpoint exact dates when it comes to the age-old practice of archery. Scientists have proposed that the development of the bow and arrow was as significant as the wheel or even harnessing fire. Like those ancient discoveries, the bow and arrow greatly impacted the history of mankind.

History

Since early bows were constructed of wood, evidence of the bow and arrow must be dated from the use of arrowheads. Stone arrowheads have been found in Africa and dated to 25,000 BC, while fire-hardened arrow heads date from 25,000 to 18,000 BC. As far back as the Paleolithic period, 8,000 to 9,000 BC, in northern Germany, hunters used flint for arrowheads. Otzi the Iceman, found in the Alps with a longbow and a quiver of fourteen arrows, has been dated to 3300 BC, the Neolithic period. The bow and arrow was an important weapon for the ancient Greeks and Romans as well as ancient Egyptians. Its use spread over the continents of Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. Even today, the art of archery is incorporated into the Olympic games, and the bow and arrow is used not only by sports enthusiasts in competition, but also for its original use--hunting.

Significance

The development of the bow and arrow most likely occurred alongside the development of the spear. Unlike the spear, which required closer range to take down prey, the bow and arrow could be used from a distance and effectively kill an animal while providing a measure of safety for the hunter. This same principal also made the bow and arrow a deadly and effective weapon used in early warfare.

Types

There are two basic kinds of bows: wooden and composite. Earliest bows were made from wood and evidence points to the use of elm and yew. Ancient arrows were made from hazel wood. The bowstrings were sinew from deer legs or animal gut. With the use of sapwood on the bowface, hunters were able to increase flexibility and thus get greater range. Composite bows, which are made from a combination of materials, developed later. Horn, bone, sinew and gut were used along with wood to increase efficiency. Composite bows gave hunters more accuracy and power than simple wood bows.

Features

A bow consists of a single bow-stick, known as the stave, notched at both ends. A cord (bowstring) is stretched tightly between the ends and tied off. An arrow, tipped with a point (the arrowhead) on one end and notched feathers on the other, is placed in the bowstring. When the string is pulled back, bending the stave, enough force is exerted when released that the arrow flies. It can take hundreds of pounds of force to make an arrow aim straight and achieve distance.

Warning

Bows, and particularly arrowheads, are still found at archaeological sites all over the world. These discoveries should be examined by archaeologists and historians. It is illegal to keep artifacts found on government property, such as historical sites.