Archery: From Then to Now
Archery has been around since God was a boy. Unlike other aspects of history, the use of bow and arrow has been fairly well documented in cave drawings, sketches, and other artworks for millennia. The skill and understanding of physics required to shoot an arrow accurately, and the importance of successfully using the bow and arrow for food collection and protection during primitive times, increased the importance and prowess of those people who excelled at bow work. It is rare to find a cave drawing of a farmer. It is far more common to find one of a hunter with bow and arrow in hand. What does our long fascination with the bow and arrow stem from, and why has the use of the bow and arrow continued to crop up in popular culture?
The bow and arrow came into being at the close of the Upper Paleolithic era, somewhere between 40,000 and 10,000 years ago. Though arrows, or at least the points used for arrows, had been utilized on spears since the Middle Paleolithic period (50,000 to 40,000 years ago), the bow was not introduced until much later. The first signs of European archery appeared in Hamburg, Germany somewhere between 9000 and 8000 B.C. The oldest European bows currently in existence were found in Denmark and date back to the Bronze Age (3200-600 B.C.). Stone Age arrows were also found in England and Sweden. Arrows existed in Africa 64,000 years ago. The Egyptians utilized arrows before the first pharaohs began ruling for both hunting and warfare. The Levant region (Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Territories, etc.) shows evidence of arrow use dating back to 12,500-9,500 B.C. Arrow use began appearing in North America somewhere around 2500 B.C.
Arrows became increasingly popular throughout the Iron Age and by the beginning of the 'classical' civilizations such as the Persian, the Indian, the Korean, the Chinese, and the Japanese; the effective deployment of armies of archers was often the deciding factor in skirmishes or wars with other peoples. Bow and arrows continued to be utilized throughout the Middle Ages, with various advances in bow technology, such as the development of the English Longbow and the crossbow, continuing to keep the bow and arrow viable. The arrival of firearms, however, precipitated a strong decline in the use of the bow and arrow that continued well into the late 1700s. Small groups of enthusiasts in Europe, Asia, and North America kept archery alive, and it began to gain more traction in the early 1900s. Since then, interest in archery has increased as a sport and hobby, rather than a tool for warfare. It has also become a popular way to hunt again, especially with the development of the recurve and compound bows, and the creation of lighter equipment, such as carbon arrows. Recently, traditional archery practices have enjoyed resurgence, as well.
Though the use of the bow and arrow has waxed and waned practically speaking, mankind’s fascination with archery, and the myth that surrounds the archer, has remained relatively constant. From Greek mythology, to wartime heroes, to contemporary graphic novels and films, the bow and arrow, and its reputation, has signified a level of calm competence that is not often attributed to the use of a gun. This reputation is most likely due to the level of skill that is required in order to use a bow and arrow effectively, as well as the image of those people and cultures that were known for their bow and arrow use. The Japanese in Asia, the Persians, and the Native American tribes of North America, are all widely recognized for their effective use of the bow and arrow, which has somehow added to the myth and grandeur of archery in common thought. Ask the average person to name a famous figure who uses a bow and arrow, and you will receive a wide range of answers that point to how truly prevalent archery is in modern thought. Common answers include figures from Greek mythology, such as Cupid, Artemis, Eros, and Apollo and figures from folk tales such as Robin Hood and William Tell. Since the 20th Century, figures from comic books, fantasy novels, and video games, often referred to as "archers" have included Green Arrow, Red Arrow, Hawkeye, Jagged Bow, Elektra, Strongbow, and Nightfall. Films have of course jumped on the archer bandwagon, with multiple Robin Hood features, the use of bow and arrow by Rambo, (a use that made everyone want to invest in lifetime pet insurance and hide their children), and Abigail Whistler in "Blade: Trinity", among many other examples. In literature, elves usually wield the bows and arrows, again a nod to the calm, collected reputation of archers everywhere. Legolas, from the "Lord of the Rings" is the elf most commonly associated with bow and arrow use. This reputation was further cemented after the release of the successful "Lord of the Rings" film franchise. Other literary archers include Talia in the "Valdemar" series, Huang Zhong and Xiahou Yuan in the Chinese "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", Catti-brie of the "Drizzt" books, and Katniss Everdeen in "The Hunger Games". The list goes on and on.
As archery becomes more widespread as a hobby and as a means for hunting, it will be interesting to see just how much influence archery will come to have on 21st century culture. As of now, it still seems to occupy a space of myth and legend, but that is slowly changing. One thing is for sure, the use of bow and arrow has never really fallen completely out of fashion, and its reputation for "cool" has remained intact. Very few things have lasted as long, or have been as consistent as archery, so there is a good chance that the bow and arrow will last another couple thousand years.
Archers Review is dedicated to carrying on the great tradition of sharing archery knowledge, in many ways we are still re-discovering the skills of our forefathers, unlike just about any other competitive sport, in archery the learning never stops, as we grow as archers the enjoyment increases, so we invite you to share with us all the skills, tips and hints that will help us all to be the best archer we can be.
If you have something to add feel free to mail in your articles, it can be on any aspect of archery from training to bow set up, a quick hunting tip or a specific archery question you would like to know the answer to, someone somewhere will have an answer for you.
