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.
Here's what the video covers, and some links for further information:
Timecodes
00:00
00:04 – Introduction
01:03 – Brief Background on Indigenous Archery
04:00 – Making an Arrow
20:40 – Resources
Related MVAC webpages:
-Abrader: https://www.uwlax.edu/mvac/past-cultures/artifacts/?letter=a&term=124210
-Arrow Shaft Abrader – Bar Abrader: https://www.uwlax.edu/mvac/past-cultures/artifacts/?letter=a&term=169392
-Cahokia Points: https://www.uwlax.edu/mvac/past-cultures/artifacts/?letter=c&term=125480
-Points: https://www.uwlax.edu/mvac/past-cultures/point-guide/#PointsB
-Mississippian & Oneota Traditions – Mississippian Tools & Pottery: https://www.uwlax.edu/mvac/pre-european-people/mississippian--oneota-traditions/mississippian-tools--pottery/
-Mississippian & Oneota Traditions – Oneota Tools: https://www.uwlax.edu/mvac/pre-european-people/mississippian--oneota-traditions/oneota-tools/
-Woodland Tradition – Tools: https://www.uwlax.edu/mvac/pre-european-people/woodland-tradition/tools/
Artifact Identification
Mississippi Valley Archaeology Center at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse works mainly in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa and can provide information related to that region. If you would like information on artifacts, email a description of the item and where it was found, and attach a picture of the artifact with a scale to show its size. For more information visit MVAC’s website at: https://www.uwlax.edu/mvac/contact/.
For information on other regions, we suggest contacting the appropriate state archaeologist from the following list: https://sites.google.com/view/state-archaeologists.