Bows and Arrows in the New World

[Phidippides]

Let me understand something - did North American tribes already possess bow/arrow technology before the first colonists arrived in the various locations of the New World (e.g. early 17th Century)?  If so would this be one of the few technologies developed independently of one another on both sides of the Atlantic?

[Wally]

Let me understand something - did North American tribes already possess bow/arrow technology before the first colonists arrived in the various locations of the New World (e.g. early 17th Century)?  If so would this be one of the few technologies developed independently of one another on both sides of the Atlantic?

Yes to the first part... here is just one source as I wasn't able to find anything on my bookshelf (too big a mess  )
http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/graham/arrow.html. As to the second might be or might be an import from the old world by the backdoor... from Asia with the paleo-indians during theri migrations. Either way I'd say pre-Columbian.

People in North America also invented the bow and arrow. While the bow and arrow were first invented in Asia in the Early Stone Age, long before people first came to North America, apparently the people who came to North America did not know how to use bows and arrows. They invented the bow and arrow for themselves, independently, about 500 AD. Soon people were using bows and arrows all over North America, and they became very important for hunting and for war. This is from http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/northamerica/before1500/science/index.htm (edit to add this... W)

[Phidippides]

That's interesting, as I wouldn't necessarily think that the concept of bow and arrow was that simple to begin with.  Perhaps this is a dumb question, but I wonder if these tribes had developed the concept of the wheel independently....I don't recall ever seeing any such mobile device in 17th Century in North America.  But the bow and arrow seems to have much more complexity (though it is still a simple tool).

[DonaldBaker]

Because of the prevalence of tributary streams and rivers in North America, canooing became a very reliable and safe means of travel which retarded advances in overland technology.  Furthermore, since most tribes were nomadic, they followed their primary hunting game as they migrated to their seasonal forages.  Therefore, there was no need for speed or for packing large quanties overland for long distances.  The Native Americans usually only killed enough to satisfy their immediate needs and stored only enough for short stays.  They prefered to travel light as well.  When the Europeans brought horses to North America, they were adopted more for rapid mobility in warfare than as beasts of burden.  Only the sedentary cultures like the Pueblo would have other uses for horses such as to pull carts.

[Wally]

1

[Stumpfoot]

Because of the prevalence of tributary streams and rivers in North America, canooing became a very reliable and safe means of travel which retarded advances in overland technology.  Furthermore, since most tribes were nomadic, they followed their primary hunting game as they migrated to their seasonal forages.  Therefore, there was no need for speed or for packing large quanties overland for long distances.  The Native Americans usually only killed enough to satisfy their immediate needs and stored only enough for short stays.  They prefered to travel light as well.  When the Europeans brought horses to North America, they were adopted more for rapid mobility in warfare than as beasts of burden.  Only the sedentary cultures like the Pueblo would have other uses for horses such as to pull carts.

One of the better explanations I've heard.

[DonaldBaker]

Because of the prevalence of tributary streams and rivers in North America, canooing became a very reliable and safe means of travel which retarded advances in overland technology.  Furthermore, since most tribes were nomadic, they followed their primary hunting game as they migrated to their seasonal forages.  Therefore, there was no need for speed or for packing large quanties overland for long distances.  The Native Americans usually only killed enough to satisfy their immediate needs and stored only enough for short stays.  They prefered to travel light as well.  When the Europeans brought horses to North America, they were adopted more for rapid mobility in warfare than as beasts of burden.  Only the sedentary cultures like the Pueblo would have other uses for horses such as to pull carts.

One of the better explanations I've heard.

Thanks.  I've been so busy with my other sites, I forgot how enjoyable it is to write History sometimes.  I've just about made up my mind to get back into school and get that thesis finished.

[Wally]

Don't get no better than this!

[skiguy]

I've just about made up my mind to get back into school and get that thesis finished.

Go Donnie!!  Good for you!

[Phidippides]

Yes, congratulations are in order, Donnie....well at least minor ones, and the major congrats saved for when it's finished.  But I'm glad to hear you're continuing on with it.

[DonaldBaker]

Well the thing is I utterly abhor quitting something in midstream.  It will haunt me until I die if I don't get it done soon.

[Wally]

.... ... get back into school and get that thesis finished.

Subject of same?

[DonaldBaker]

My subject is making the connection between the religious rhetoric of the Great Awakening in colonial South Carolina and the ideological rhetoric of the South Carolina Regulators on the eve of the Revolutionary War.  Tough subject as it's a history of ideas kinda thing. 

[skiguy]

Let me understand something - did North American tribes already possess bow/arrow technology before the first colonists arrived in the various locations of the New World (e.g. early 17th Century)? 

If so would this be one of the few technologies developed independently of one another on both sides of the Atlantic?

I just read that the natives used stone arrows and weapons, while the colonists used steel which was of course much superior.  Were the natives behind by a thousand years or so?   How old are the bow and arrow by the way? 

[Phidippides]

Believe it or not, rock can sometimes be superior to metal.  I think some American Indians used obsidian, which can have an edge which is sharper than that of a metallic blade.  The downside is that it's probably harder to create arrowheads out of obsidian on a large scale.