Jul 6, 2023
Indigenous peoples in Wisconsin began using bow-and-arrow technology about 1,400 years ago, using arrows tipped with stone projectile points. Points found at archaeological sites still display flaking scars that reveal how flintknappers made them. But what about the rest of the arrow? Here Dr. Jim Theler introduces long-time MVAC friend Loren Cade, who takes us through the complex process of making a flight-worthy arrow, from forming the shaft to affixing fletching and an arrowhead. This fascinating process shows how traditional bows and arrows—sometimes called "primitive" to distinguish them from modern counterparts—were very sophisticated indeed.
