Archery

Archery is a sport in which individuals use bows to shoot arrows. It is a hunting and competitive sport as well as a recreational activity. The word archery comes from arcus, the Latin word meaning "bow" or "arch." Those who participate in archery are archers, and experts are known as toxophilites, from the ancient Greek tokson philos, meaning "lover of the bow."

Archery developed as a survival skill during the late Paleolithic or early Mesolithic periods. Early evidence in Europe dates to about 10,000 BCE, although researchers believe it began far earlier in Asia and the Middle East, and bows and arrows were probably used as early as 20,000 BCE. Evidence shows the ancient Egyptians were using archery in hunting and warfare about 3,000 BCE, and the skill is illustrated on Greco-Roman pottery.

It was used by early humans to hunt prey, and many sportsmen continue to do so. In modern times, it is mostly recreational and competitive. For example, it is an event in the Olympics and a skill exhibited in television shows such as Arrow and films such as The Hunger Games, The Avengers, Robin Hood, Lord of the Rings, and The Hobbit.

Origins and History

Many early bows were made of animal products, including tendons and horns, as well as wood. An early example of archery was found with the archaeological discovery of Ötzi, a well-preserved mummy of a man from approximately 3,300 BCE. Ötzi was found by a hiker in the Alps of northern Italy in September 1991. Among his belongings was a yew piece he was carving into a longbow that was 5.9 feet (1.82 meters) long. Researchers working with a replica of the bow as it would have been when complete discovered the Iceman could have taken down an animal or person from a distance of 30 to 50 feet (98 to 164 meters). Ötzi was carrying a quiver, or a bag for carrying arrows, that was made of deer hide supported by a hazel wood rod. Inside the quiver were two complete arrows and twelve arrow shafts of three types of wood. The flint arrowheads were set into notches on the shafts and held in place with nettle fibers. Birch tar, a sticky substance, held the fletching at the opposite end of the shafts in place. Fletching is a stabilizer, to help the arrow fly straight, and is usually made of feathers. The artifacts found in the glacier with the mummy have given researchers new insight into Bronze Age tools.

Archery was an important skill in Asia. The Chinese used archery in battle after 1766 BCE, and competed in archery tournaments after 1026 BCE. The Mongols were proficient with a bow and arrow, and were known for shooting from horseback. This skill helped Attila the Hun conquer much of Asia and Europe during the fifth century CE. The Japanese learned archery from the Chinese in the sixth century. Archery's influence manifested itself in the martial art kyujutsu, meaning "the art of the bow," and later known as kyudo, "the way of the bow."

American Indigenous began using the bow and arrow about 500 CE. The new tools were considerably more efficient and accurate in hunting than spears. They hunted both on foot and on horseback using bows and arrows similar to those used by the Iceman.

While all archers use a bow and arrows, the tools vary considerably. The users relied on materials available to them in making their tools. They also adapted the size and shape of the bow to meet their needs. For example, archers who shoot while riding a horse typically use short bows, which are more powerful and easier to use under difficult conditions.

Arrows have a head, which traditionally was shaped flint or some other stone. Modern arrows may have metal tips. The fletching counters the weight of the arrowhead. Feathers are favored for fletching, because they naturally flex and provide spin, which helps the arrow fly straighter. To provide this spin, the fletching on one arrow must be consistent—all of the feathers must come from a right or left bird wing, but not both. Many modern archers prefer feathers for fletching. The majority of feathers used are from turkey wings. They are sorted by left or right wing and often dyed bright colors.

Modern bows may be wood or fiberglass. They are produced in three shapes. The longbow has a single long curve, like a parenthesis. A recurve bow has a long central curve, but each end then curves back in the other direction. A compound bow is shorter and has cams and cables, which maximize the energy stored in the bow.

The bow functions as two springs, with a grip or handle in the center. The material on the belly, or inside curve, of the bow limbs compresses when the string is pulled. At the same time, the back, or outside, is placed under tension as it stretches. The energy the archer uses to pull back the string is stored in the bow's tension, and the energy is released when the archer releases the string, creating the propulsion that thrusts the arrow forward.

A bow's power is measured in draw weight. The cast, or propelling force, of the bow is determined by the length of draw (on the string) and the draw weight—this is known as Hooke's law. These factors determine the size and weight of the arrows an archer can use with a given bow.

Rules and Regulations

In competition, each round is known as an end. Tournament rules dictate any restrictions on the equipment. Targets may vary in size, but generally contain ten concentric rings, each a different score, numbered from outermost—one ring—to center—ten ring. On Olympic targets, one ring and two ring are white, three and four are black, five and six are blue, seven and eight are red, and nine and ten are gold. Ten ring has an additional inner ring, called inner ten or X ring, that may be used in deciding ties. The scores for each ring are added up, with no points for missing the targets. In most tournaments, high-scoring archers move up through rounds and go head-to-head in finals.

Each end is timed; competitors have up to two minutes to shoot three arrows and four minutes for a six-arrow end. Archers are penalized if they raise the bow arm before the official signals. If an arrow bounces off or hangs from the target, it is scored by the mark it made.

Target archery may take place outside or in an indoor range. Archers shoot at distances up to 90 meters.

Field archery competition takes place on a course, which many compare to a golf course. The targets and terrain vary, and competitors may be shooting in forests, on slopes, and under varying light conditions. Archers shoot at target faces with concentric rings, gaining more points for being closer to the center. Depending on the event, competitors may choose between the compound, barebow, and recurve bows. Events may use animal targets rather than concentric ring paper targets.

Paralympic (Para) archery is competition by individuals with disabilities. Rules permit archers to use adapted equipment. Para archery is a sport in the Paralympic Games, and it was included at the first Paralympic Games in Rome in 1960. Archers compete in several categories that are based on their abilities.

Strategy and Tactics

Top athletes say the key to archery success is concentration. An archer needs to focus on the target, the bow, and the arrow, and block out all noise and distractions. Some athletes say it helps to visualize the venue and the archer's successful completion of each shot. Some recall previous competitions as well, and replay successes, to boost confidence.

Professional Leagues and Series

Target archery clubs operate in more than 150 countries, and a number of leagues and tournaments are sponsored by groups and outfitters.

The World Archery Federation in Lausanne, Switzerland, is the governing body in the sport. It comprises 156 national federations and other associations. The World Archery Field Championship involves two days of shooting twenty-four targets each day. After successive rounds, the top scorers compete in semi-final and medal rounds.

Popularity

While the 1900 Olympic Games included archery, the sport disappeared from the Olympics after 1920 and did not resurface until 1972. Men and women compete in individual, team, and mixed events. As of 2017, Hubert Van Innis of Belgium was the most decorated archer in the history of the Olympics. He won six gold medals and three silver medals over two Olympic Games, 1900 and 1920.

The sport experienced a surge of interest in the 2010s. A number of popular films included archers, but instructors reported the greatest influence was from The Hunger Games film franchise. The films are based on dystopian young adult novels by Suzanne Collins. The stories are about Katniss Everdeen, a teen girl who uses a bow and arrow to hunt for food for her family and later in an arena where the government forces young people to fight to the death. Many girls and women began pursuing archery after the release of the first film in 2012. USA Archery reported a 25 percent increase in membership from December 2011 to April 2015. Growth continued, with the country seeing record archery membership growth in 2021.

Bibliography

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