The bow and arrow qualifies as one of the oldest weapons used by mankind. Arrowheads have been discovered in nearly every country of the world, from Finland to Germany. The oldest arrowheads, found in Africa, date back to 25,000 years ago. Humans first made their arrowheads out of wood but quickly learned how to make fire hardened stone and flint arrowheads. They also added feathers to the shafts which increased accuracy.
By 2800 B.C. Egyptians had developed the composite bow, made from wood, animal horn and cat gut. Unstrung, the bow resembled a ‘C’ in shape, and it required two people to string it.The light arrows the Egyptians used could travel 400 yards from such a bow, easily piercing the enemy armor of the time. These deadly archers rode with skilled charioteers who could outflank the enemy armies, allowing the Egyptians to decimate anyone they considered an enemy.
Genghis Khan and his warriors used composite bows to terrorize their enemies.
Chinese archers developed the crossbow around 1200 B.C.
In 250 B.C. the Parthians, from the area that we know as Iran and Afghanistan today, fooled their enemies by pretending to run away while firing arrows back at their enemies. Historians believe that the phrase ‘a parting shot’ originated from the Parthians parting shots.
Humans continued to develop deadlier and deadlier bows and arrows. They learned how to make barbed arrows, making removal from flesh difficult; they manufactured small triangular tipped arrows that pierced chain mail, and they used half moot arrow types that could cut through the rigging of enemy ships.
Archers played a huge role in warfare for millennium, but their days of domination did come to an end with the invention of accurate firearms. The last battle in which the English used archers was in 1644.
By the late 1600s, archery contests had become popular in England. Olympics officials included archery as part of the Olympic Games in 1904, 1908 and 1920, but then discontinued archery until 1972.
Wisconsin started the first bow hunting season in 1934. In 1937, archery competitions allowed the use of bow sights, and in 1946 James Easton produced the first trademarked aluminum arrows, the 24 SRT-X.
Companies continued to make improvements to bows, developing pistol grip bow handles, torque stabilizers, and recurve bows. In 1969, H.W. Allen received a patent for his compound bow.
In 1992 the Olympic torch in Barcelona, Spain, was lit using a flaming arrow, and in 1995 officials included the compound bow in World Target Archery championships.
Individuals and companies continue to make improvements to the bow and arrow. New improvements that look promising include single cam technology and the use of carbon arrows.
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