Archery is the art of
propelling arrows with the use of a bow.Archery has historically been used
for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a
recreational activity.One who practices archery is typically known as an
"archer" or "bowman.
Archery was highly developed in Asia and in the Islamic world. In East Asia
the ancient Korean civilizations were well-known for their archery
skills.Central Asian and American Plains tribesmen were extremely adept at
archery on horseback.
The bow seems to have been invented by the
late Paleolithic or early Mesolithic. The oldest indication for archery in
Europe comes from the Stellmoor in the Ahrensburg valley north of Hamburg,
Germany and date from the late Paleolithic about 9000-8000 BC. The arrows
were made of pine and consisted of a mainshaft and a 15-20 centimetre (6-8
inches) long foreshaft with a flint point. There are no known definite
earlier bows, but stone points which have been identified as arrowheads were
made in Africa by about 6000 years ago.
The oldest bows known so far come from the Holmegård swamp in Denmark. In
the 1940s, two bows were found there. The Holmegaard bows are made of elm
and have flat arms and a D-shaped midsection. The center section is
biconvex. The complete bow is 1.50 m (5 ft) long. Bows of Holmegaard-type
were in use until the Bronze Age; the convexity of the midsection has
decreased with time.
Mesolithic pointed shafts have been found in
England, Germany, Denmark, and Sweden. They were often rather long (up to
120 cm 4 ft) and made of European hazel (Corylus avellana), wayfaring tree
(Viburnum lantana) and other small woody shoots. Some still have flint
arrow-heads preserved; others have blunt wooden ends for hunting birds and
small game. The ends show traces of fletching, which was fastened on with
birch-tar.
Bows and arrows have been present in Egyptian culture since its predynastic
origins. The "Nine Bows" symbolize the various peoples that had been ruled
over by the pharaoh since Egypt was united.
In the Levant, artifacts which may be
arrow-shaft straighteners are known from the Natufian culture, (ca.
12,800-10,300 BP) onwards. The Khiamian and PPN A shouldered Khiam-points
may well be arrowheads.
Classical civilizations, notably the Persians, Parthians, Indians, Koreans,
Chinese, and Japanese fielded large numbers of archers in their armies.
Arrows were destructive against massed formations, and the use of archers
often proved decisive. The Sanskrit term for archery, dhanurveda, came to
refer to martial arts in general.
Mythology
Archers are deities or heroes in several mythologies, including Greek
Artemis and Apollo, Roman Diana and Cupid, Germanic Agilaz, continued in
legends like those of William Tell, Palnetoke, or Robin Hood. Armenian Hayk
and Babylonian Marduk, Indian Arjuna and Rama, and Persian Arash were all
archers. Earlier Greek representations of Heracles normally depict him as an
archer.
In East Asia, Yi the archer features in
several early Chinese myths, and the historical character of Zhou Tong
features in many fictional forms. Jumong, the first Taewang of the Goguryeo
kingdom of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, is claimed by legend to have been a
near-godlike archer.
While there is great variety in the
construction details of bows (both historic and modern) all bows consist of
a string attached to elastic limbs that store mechanical energy imparted by
the user drawing the string. Bows may be broadly split into two categories:
those drawn by pulling the string directly and those that use a mechanism to
pull the string.
Directly drawn bows may be further divided
based upon differences in the method of limb construction, notable examples
being self bows, laminated bows and composite bows. Bows can also be
classified by the bow shape of the limbs when unstrung; in contrast to
simple straight bows, a recurve bow has tips that curve away from the archer
when the bow is unstrung. The cross-section of the limb also varies; the
classic longbow is a tall bow with narrow limbs that are D-shaped in cross
section, and the flatbow has flat wide limbs that are approximately
rectangular in cross-section.
Cable-backed bows use cords as the back of the bow; the draw weight of the
bow can be adjusted by changing the tension of the cable. They were
widespread among Inuit who lacked easy access to good bow wood. One variety
of cable-backed bow is the Penobscot bow or Wabenaki bow, invented by Frank
Loring (Chief Big Thunder) about 1900. It consists of a small bow attached
by cables on the back of a larger main bow.
A compound bow is a bow designed to reduce the force required to hold the
string at full draw, allowing the archer more time to aim. Most compound
designs use cams or elliptical wheels on the ends of the limbs to achieve
this. A typical let-off is anywhere from 65%–75% – for example, a 60-pound
bow with 75% let-off will only require 15–20 pounds of force to hold at full
draw. Up to 99% let-off is possible.
Mechanically drawn bows typically have a stock or other mounting, such as
the crossbow. They are not limited by the strength of a single archer, and
larger varieties have been used as siege engines.
Bows made of Green wood (undried), are mainly used in survival situations to
provide food for the survivor. Green wood bows are usually and made the best
out of Pine. Draw weights are usually 25 pounds and below, only made for
hunting small game such as rabbits, birds, and fish.
The most common form of
arrow consists of a shaft with an arrowhead attached to the front end and
with fletchings and a nock attached to the other end. Shafts are typically
composed of solid wood, fiberglass, aluminum alloy, carbon fiber, or
composite materials. Wooden arrows are prone to warping. Fiberglass arrows
are brittle, but can be produced to uniform specifications easily. Aluminum
shafts were a very popular high-performance choice in the later half of the
20th century due to their straightness, lighter weight, and subsequently
higher speed and flatter trajectories. Carbon fiber arrows became popular in
the 1990s and are very light, flying even faster and flatter than aluminum
arrows. Today, arrows made up of composite materials are the most popular
tournament arrows at Olympic Events, especially the Easton X10 and A/C/E.
The arrowhead is the primary functional component of the arrow. Some arrows
may simply use a sharpened tip of the solid shaft, but it is far more common
for separate arrowheads to be made, usually from metal, stone, or other hard
materials.
The most commonly used forms are target points, field points, and
broadheads, although there are also other types, such as bodkin, judo, and
blunt heads.
Fletching is traditionally made from bird feathers, but also solid plastic
vanes and thin sheetlike spin vanes are used. They are attached near the
nock (rear) end of the arrow with thin double sided tape, glue, or,
traditionally, sinew. Three fletches is the most common configuration in all
cultures, though more may be used. When three-fletched the fletches are
equally spaced around the shaft with one placed such that it is
perpendicular to the bow when nocked on the string (though with modern
equipment, variations are seen especially when using the modern spin vanes).
This fletch is called the "index fletch" or "cock feather" (also known as
"the odd vane out" or "the nocking vane") and the others are sometimes
called the "hen feathers".
Commonly, the cock feather is of a different
color, traditionally the hens are solid and the cock is barred. However, if
archers are using fletching made of feather or similar material they may use
same color vanes, as different dyes can give varying stiffness to vanes,
resulting in less precision. Also, like-colored fletching and nocks can
assist in learning instinctive shooting (i.e. without sights), a technique
often preferred by "traditional" archers (shooters of longbows and
recurves). When four-fletched often two opposing fletches are cock-feathers
and occasionally the fletches are not evenly spaced.
The fletching may be either parabolic (short feathers in a smooth parabolic
curve) or shield (generally shaped like one-half of a narrow shield) cut and
is often attached at an angle, known as helical fletching, to introduce a
stabilizing spin to the arrow while in flight. Whether helicial or straight
fletched, when natural fletching (bird feathers) are used it is critical
that all feathers come from the same side of the bird. Oversized fletchings
can be used to accentuate drag and thus limit the range of the arrow
significantly; these arrows are called flu-flus. Misplacement of fletchings
can often change the arrow's flight path dramatically.
Target archery competitions may be held
indoors or outdoors. Indoor distances are 18 m and 25 m. Outdoor distances
range from 30 m to 90 m. Competition is divided into ends of 3 or 6 arrows.
After each end, the competitors walk to the target to score and retrieve
their arrows. Archers have a set time limit in which to shoot their arrows.
Targets are marked with 10 evenly spaced concentric rings, which have score
values from 1 through 10 assigned to them. In addition, there is an inner 10
ring, sometimes called the X ring or called a bulls eye. This becomes the 10
ring at indoor compound competitions. Outdoors, it serves as a tiebreaker
with the archer scoring the most X's winning. Archers score each end by
summing the scores for their arrows. Line breakers, an arrow just touching a
scoring boundary line, will be awarded the higher score.
Different rounds and distances use different size target faces. These range
from 40 cm (18 m FITA Indoor) to 122 cm (70 m and 90 m FITA, used in Olympic
competition).
A horse archer, horsed archer, or mounted
archer is a cavalryman armed with a bow, able to shoot while riding from
horseback. Archery has occasionally been used from the backs of other riding
animals. Mounted archery was the defining characteristic of Steppe warfare
throughout Central Asia, and also of the southern American prairies after
the adoption of the horse.Since using a bow requires a horseman to let go of
the reins with both hands, horse archers need superb equestrian skills if
they are to shoot on the move. It is thought that the Ancient Greeks
invented the mythical Centaurs as the perfect union of an archer and a fast
moving horseman.
A
Aluminium (material) - Used in modern archery for the production of arrows
Anchor point - area to rest lightly as the string is pulled toward the face,
usually the corner of the archer's mouth or chin
AMO (organization) - The Archery Manufacturers and Merchants Organization
(now known as the ATA)
AMO length (measure) - A standardized length for measuring bow strings
Archer (practitioner) - One who practices Archery (a.k.a. bowman)
Archer's paradox (effect) - The effect produced by an arrow flexing as it
leaves the bow
Archery (practice) - The practice of using a bow to shoot arrows
Arm guard (equipment) - A protective strap or sheath for an archer's forearm
(a.k.a. bracer)
Arrow (equipment) - The main projectile in Archery
Arrowhead (equipment) - The front end of an arrow; also known as the head,
point or tip
Arrow rest (equipment) - A device used to hold the arrow against the handle
until it is released
ATA (organization) - The Archery Trade Association (formerly known as the
AMO)
A.T.A (measure) - An acronym for "Axel-To-Axel", the length between the two
pivotal axels which hold the cams onto the limbs on a compound bow. B
Blunt (equipment) - An unsharpened arrowhead used for targets and small game
Bodkin point (equipment) - A sharp, pointed arrow head
Bolt (equipment) - A crossbow projectile; also called a quarrel
Boss (equipment) - A target, typically made from tightly compacted foam or
straw
Bowman (practitioner) - One who practices Archery (a.k.a. Archer)
Bow (equipment) - An ancient weapon powered by elasticity used for hunting
and sport
Bowfishing (practice) - The use of archery equipment for catching fish
Bowhunting (practice) - The practice of taking game using archery
Bow string (equipment) - A fiber joining two ends of a bow for launching
arrows
Bowyer (craftsman) - One who makes bows
Brace (practice) - The act of attaching a bow string to a bow
Bracer (equipment) - A protective strap or sheath for an archer's forearm
(a.k.a. arm guard)
Broadhead (equipment) - A sharp-bladed hunting head
Butts (location) - A practice field with mounds of earth used as targets C
Carbon fiber (material) - Used in modern archery for the production of
arrows
Clicker (equipment) - A device used to indicate an archer's optimum draw
length
Clout shoot (practice) - An archery game in which arrows are shot at an arc
toward a flat target laid out on the ground
Cock feather (equipment) - A differently-colored fletch that indicates
proper arrow alignment (a.k.a. Index feather)
Composite bow (equipment) - A bow made from laminating various materials
together
Compound bow (equipment) - A modern bow that uses a system of cables and
pulleys
Crest (equipment) - Heraldic markings on an arrow used for identification or
design
Crossbow (equipment) - A bow mounted on a stock that shoots bolts or
Quarrels D
Daikyu (equipment) - A Japanese longbow
Decurve bow (equipment) - A form of bow in which the unstrung tips curve
toward the archer
Deflex bow (equipment) - A form of bow in which the entire length of the
handle and arms curve toward the archer
Drawing (practice) - The act of pulling an arrow against a bow string in
readiness for shooting
Draw weight (measure) - The number of pounds of force required to draw a bow
twenty-eight inches E
End (Practice) - A round of arrows shot during an archery event (rarely more
than six arrows)
English longbow (equipment) - A powerful medieval bow; also known as the
Welsh longbow F
Fiberglass (material) - Used in modern archery equipment for the production
of both bows and arrows
Field archery (practice) - Shooting at targets of unmarked distances in an
open field
Field tip (equipment) - A practice head for targets
Finger Tab (equipment) - A small leather patch to protect the archer's
fingers (a.k.a Tab)
Fistmele (measure) - The proper distance between the handle of a bow and the
bow string when the bow is strung
Flatbow (equipment) - A non-recurved bow with a rectangular cross section
Fletching (equipment) - The stabilizing fins or vanes of an arrow (each
individual fin is a fletch)
Fletcher (craftsman) - One who makes and attaches fletching for arrows
Flex (measure) - The amount of "bend" an arrow shaft provides; contrasted
with Spine
Flu-Flu Arrow (equipment) - A specially designed short-range arrow
Footed arrow (equipment) - An arrow with a shaft composed of two types of
wood G
Game (target) - Non-domesticated animals hunted for food or sport
Glove (equipment) - Protective gear for an archer's fingers (a.k.a. Shooting
glove)
Gungdo (practice) - The Korean art of archery H
Hankyu (equipment) - A short Japanese bow
Head (equipment) - The front end of an arrow; also known as the arrowhead,
point or tip
Hen feather (equipment) - One of two like-colored vanes on an arrow that is
not the index feather
Horse archer (practitioner) - An archer mounted on a horse I
Index fletching (equipment) - A differently-colored fletch that indicates
proper arrow alignment (a.k.a. Cock fletching) J
Judo points (equipment) - A target and small-game head equipped with spring
wires for easy location K
Kisser (equipment) - A button used to indicate consistent vertical distance
when drawing a bow
Kyudo (practice) - The Japanese art of archery L
Longbow (equipment) - A tall bow without significant recurve
Loose (practice) - The act of shooting an arrow from a bow (a.k.a. Release) M
Mounted archer (practitioner) - An archer mounted on a horse
Mongolian draw (practice) - The act of drawing a bow with one's thumb
(a.k.a. Mongolian release) N
Nock (equipment) - The notch at the rear end of an arrow
Nock (practice) - The act of setting an arrow in a bow
Nocking point (equipment) - The point on a bow string over which an arrow
nock is placed O
Overdrawn (measure) - A condition in which a bow string is too short for the
bow; fistmele is exceeded P
Plunger button (equipment) - A device used to correct an arrow's flex at the
point of release
Point (equipment) - The front end of an arrow; also known as the arrowhead,
head or tip
Poisons (equipment) - Toxic additions to arrow heads in order to increase
hunting effectiveness Q
Quarrel (equipment) - A crossbow projectile; also called a bolt
Quiver (equipment) - A container for an archer's projectiles R
Recurve bow (equipment) - A form of bow in which the unstrung tips curve
away from the archer
Reflex bow (equipment) - A form of bow in which the entire length of the
handle and arms curve away from the archer
Release (practice) - The act of firing an arrow from a bow (a.k.a. Loose)
Rest (equipment) - A device used to hold the arrow against the handle until
it is released (a.k.a. Arrow rest)
Riser (equipment) - The handle section of a Bow S
Safety arrow (equipment) - Arrow with Wide tip or padded head for
reenactments
Self bow (equipment) - A bow made from a single piece of material (normally
wood)
Serving (equipment) - Extra thread wound around a bow string in order to
support the main fiber
Shaft (equipment) - The main structural element of an arrow
Shooting glove (equipment) - Protective gear for an archer's fingers
Spine (measure) - The stiffness of an arrow shaft; contrasted with Flex
Stabilizer (equipment) - A weighted rod or set of rods used to provide
balance to a bow
Stave (equipment) - A strip of wood from which a bow may be made T
Tab (equipment) - A small leather patch to protect the archer's fingers
(a.k.a. Finger tab)
Target (equipment) - General term for the intended destination of a shot
arrow
Target archery (practice) - Shooting at non-moving targets placed varying
distances away
Target point (equipment) - Bullet-shaped practice head for targets
Target shooting (practice) - Competitive event that uses projectile weapons
for tests of proficiency
Thumb ring (equipment) - Protective ring for an archer's thumb
Tip (equipment) - The front end of an arrow; also known as the arrowhead,
head or point
V
Vane (equipment) - The stabilizing fin of an arrow W
Wand shoot (practice) - An archery event in which arrows are shot at a slat
of soft wood that is typically 6' tall and 2" wide
Welsh longbow (equipment) - A powerful medieval bow; also known as the
English longbow
Wood (material) - The earliest material used for the construction of bows
and arrows Y
Yabusame (practice) - A type of mounted archery practiced in Japan
Yew (material) - A type of wood traditionally used to make bows
Yumi (equipment) - An asymmetric Japanese bow; includes both long and short
varieties (daikyu and hankyu)
