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The Adoption of the Bow and Arrow: A Model Based on Experimental Performance Characteristics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Steve A. Tomka
Steve A. Tomka*
Affiliation:
Center for Archaeological Research, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249 (steve.tomka@utsa.edu)
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Abstract

The timing of the arrival of the bow and arrow in the New World and reasons for its adoption have long been discussed by archaeologists. It typically has been assumed that the bow and arrow provided mechanical and physical advantages over the atlatl and dart, particularly in long-range killing power. This experimental study examines the effectiveness of traditional bows and arrows to deliver lethal wounds to prey species of different sizes. The results suggest that the bow and arrow was effective in hunting prey species such as antelope and deer but ineffective in bringing down larger animals unless changes in hunting strategies were adopted. In contrast, the atlatl and dart would have excelled in large game hunting. It is proposed that the adoption of the bow and arrow and the abandonment of the atlatl and dart were conditioned by their distinct performance advantages and changes in the game species targeted over time.

Resumen

Resumen

El momento de llegada del arco y flecha y los motivos por su adopción en el Nuevo Mundo han sido temas de discusión por mucho tiempo entre arqueólogos. Típicamente, se ha asumido que el arco y la flecha dieron ventajas mecánicas y físicas sobre el propulsor y el dardo particularmente en términos de la capacidad de matar o “killing power” a largo alcance. Este estudio experimental examina la eficacia de los arcos y las flechas tradicionales para herir mortalmente a presas de distintos tamaños. Los resultados sugieren que el arco y flecha tradicional habría sido eficaz en la caza de presas de mediano tamaño, como ser el ciervo y el antílope, pero ineficaz para derribar presas más grandes, a no ser que se adoptaran cambios en las estrategias de caza. Al contrario, el propulsor y el dardo seran más eficazes en la caza de presas de largo tamaño como el bison. En base a estos hallazgos, se propone que el arco y la flecha eventualmente podrían haber reemplazado al propulsor y al dardo porque eran más efectivos para especies de presas de mediano porte y por el decremento eventual de especies más grandes.

Type
Articles
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 78 , Issue 3 , July 2013 , pp. 553 - 569
Copyright
Copyright © 2013 by the Society for American Archaeology.

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