The History of Archery
The oldest known arrowheads were found in Africa and were dated to 25,000 years ago. The history of archery extends back to the dawn of mankind.
The bow and arrow were one of man’s first lethal weapons. Arrowheads were found in sites in Africa that can be dated to over 25,000 years ago. It is thought that the bow evolved from spear throwers that were more like slings. Somewhere before 18,000 years ago, the arrowheads were being hardened and feathers were added to the shafts of the arrows to add stability. At this time there was no other weapon that could kill from a distance and the bow and arrow were a feared combination.
Of course, the arrow would also give man a decided edge in hunting. Archery as a sport would certainly have developed as a way to give both hunters and warriors a way to hone their skills. A skeleton was found in Italy with an arrowhead in the body. The skeleton was dated to around 11,000 B.C. Although hunting may have been the impetus for the development of archery, it also found its way into warfare.
One of the earliest examples of an actual bow was recovered from a bog in Denmark. It has been dated to between 8,000-6000 B.C. The bow was made from a single piece of wood, most likely Elm. The composite bow was first used by the Egyptians around 2500 B.C. It was also made of wood with animal horn tips. This bow shot very light arrows that could easily travel 400 yards. The strings were made from sheep intestines. The Egyptians would mount archers on chariots making them a mobile and devastating force in battle.
Around 250 B.C. the Parthians, nomadic tribesman from the area of what is now Iraq and Iran, perfected the art of using a bow while mounted on horseback. Swift, and deadly, these warriors developed a tactic of firing backwards from the saddle while appearing to flee. This is thought to have given rise to the expression, “Parthian shot” which later evolved into “parting shot.” Around the same time, the Chinese Emperor was being buried in a tomb surrounded by 6000 terracotta statues of his soldiers, many armed with crossbows. This showed the development of a new and more lethal use of the bow.
In 288 AD, a Roman officer named Sebastian was found to be a Christian and was ordered shot to death by arrows. Somehow, he survived this execution attempt and was nursed back to health only to again proclaim his faith. He was beaten to death with clubs and his body thrown into the streets. However, Sebastian became the patron saint of archers. The bow and arrow would wind through the history of the Christian era. Eventually, it would be replaced by the invention of gunpowder and the rifle replaced the bow as the main hunting tool.