Earliest archers...

[smj]

To date, the oldest known archery artifacts go back something like 10,000 years. Speculation and hints set it back to 40,000 years ago... Well, there is a new estimation on the scene! Scientists new believe that they have found broadheads from 60,000 years ago. Take a look -

www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=588&art_id=vn20080605055841569C413057

They don't say how they dated these finds, I would like to hear that - carbon dating or otherwise. If all is for real, that little stick and string has a longer history than anyone thought!

[BT]

Interesting but.... to me, this is to much in terms of guesstimating what they had in their hands.
Is it?....maybe.

[smj]

Jun 6, 2008 6:08:30 GMT -5 BT said:

Interesting but.... to me, this is to much in terms of guesstimating what they had in their hands.
Is it?....maybe.

There have been items found, such as tips that might serve as arrow heads, in the past that suggest archery may have been in use. However, to date the oldest known finds of both bows and arrows - 100% certain that this is archery - is around 10,000 years old. Other indicators go back 40,000 years but do not have all the evidence to support archery without any doubt. For example, a tip without a shaft, without a bow, is just a tip. Maybe that tip came from a small spear, a kids spear, an atlatl dart, or an arrow. It is very hard to conclude that it came from an arrow without anything else to go with it. The article does not give any other supporting data, nor how the tip was dated to place it 60,000 years ago. Still, if the find is really from 60k years ago, and is in line with arrow tips found in more recent Africa, it does make for some interesting speculation!

[BT]

Maybe that tip came from a small spear, a kids spear, an atlatl dart, or an arrow. It is very hard to conclude that it came from an arrow without anything else to go with it. The article does not give any other supporting data, nor how the tip was dated to place it 60,000 years ago. Still, if the find is really from 60k years ago, and is in line with arrow tips found in more recent Africa, it does make for some interesting speculation!

Thats about how I was looking at it.

[arwin]

I think thats one of the reasons I love traditional gear. Other than the advance of modern materials, the design has stayed pretty much the same.

[huntbunny6]

Thats really cool. Thanks for the link .
For me there is just something different about traditional stick and string bows.
When you shoot a fancy compound, is it you or the expensive gadgets and gear?
when you shoot a recurve there is just a simple and natural feeling of knowing it was just you and a piece of wood and string that can get the job done. Its about getting in touch with the past and the art of archery

I adore trade bows, they are a thing of beauty, some of them are masterpieces .

Wouldnt trade our bear bows for any fancy compound on the market today