Bow and Arrow, system for launching a straight sharpened projectile at a distant target. The bow and arrow has been used for hunting and warfare for thousands of years. Firearms have largely replaced it for these purposes, but it is still used recreationally by some people for target shooting and hunting.

The bow is a long stave of strong, flexible material, which is bent and held under tension by a string (called a bowstring) attached to both ends. Early bowstrings were composed of gut, plant fiber, or animal hair, and the bows were made of wood or bamboo, with sinew, horn, and other materials providing additional strength. Modern bows use wood or more contemporary materials such as carbon or fiberglass in their construction. The organic materials originally used for the bowstring have been replaced by nylon and other synthetic materials. The traditional shape of the bow has been radically changed in the compound bow,a bow in which a series of cables and pulleys reduces the amount of force needed to pull the bowstring back.

The arrow is a long, straight projectile with a pointed tip. It has fins on the tail to guide its course. Early arrows were made of wood or bamboo that was carved to be as straight as possible. The tip of the arrow could be sharpened to a point and hardened over fire, or a separate arrowhead could be affixed. Arrowheads were made of a variety of materials, with bone, stone, and volcanic glass being the most common. Bone arrowheads were carved to a point, and stone and volcanic glass arrowheads were sharpened by chipping flakes off of larger pieces, which left razor-sharp edges. Arrowheads were attached to the shaft of the arrow by strips of leather, sinew, or twine made of animal hair or plant fiber. On the tail of the arrow, small fins made of feathers stabilized the arrow in flight.

Modern arrows preserve the same form as early ones, but they are usually made of more technologically advanced materials. Target arrows usually have an aluminum, fiberglass, or carbon fiber shaft, with a metal tip and feather or plastic fins. Arrows used for hunting generally have carbon fiber shafts with flat, triangular arrowheads made of steel.

To use a bow and arrow, the archer places an arrow against the bowstring and pulls the bowstring back, bending the bow and storing the muscle energy of the archer in it. By letting go of the drawn bowstring, the archer suddenly releases the energy stored in the bent bow, rapidly propelling the arrow forward.

The bow and arrow is one of humankind’s oldest tools and weapons. Some authorities date the origin of archery as early as the Aurignacian period, about 25,000 years before the modern era. Cave paintings from the Stone Age depict hunters equipped with bows and arrows. In ancient warfare, archers were important soldiers in the armies of Egypt, Persia, Rome, China, and other civilizations. In the Middle Ages (5th century to 15th century), the development of the English longbow was probably the most effective military application of archery. The longbow, usually six feet in length, was capable of accurately launching metal-tipped arrows more than 300 yards. With expert archers who could fire up to seven arrows a minute, English forces scored important military victories against armored French troops in the 14th century, especially during the Battle of Crécy in 1346.

Archery has been practiced as a recreational sport for hundreds of years. As far back as the 13th century, English monarchs were enthusiastic archers. The first English organization devoted to archery was founded in 1537, and the first such society in the United States was organized in 1828. Archery events for men were held in the 1900, 1904, 1908, and 1920 Olympic Games, and those for women were held in 1904 and 1908. They were then suspended from the Olympic Games until 1972. Today, archers compete in a variety of tournaments for accuracy and distance.