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The Pre-Columbian Tribesmen of North America used what is sometimes called a "Short Bow" or "Self-Bow" of 3' to 4' length. It may be fired from horseback. The draw (distance the bowstring was pulled back is significantly shorter than that of a Longbow. Short Bows were used for hunting, and for warfare (mostly against unarmored or very lightly protected targets.

Horses were introduced to North America by Europeans in the 1500's and the Plains Indians began to domesticate them soon after they discovered them wild. Lacking stirrups further limited the power they could get from these bows. To kill buffalo, they had to close to extremely short range, estimated at 25' to 10'

The Welsh Longbow was adopted by the English after conflicts between the "English" Norman / Anglos-Saxons vs. the Welsh in the 12th century. By the 1300's the Norman led English had "grown" their own archers but also employed Welsh volunteers/mercenaries against the Scottish and continental foes.

Longbows firing the "Clothyard" arrows (allowing a three-foot draw, some 50% greater than a short bow) were capable of puncturing Chainmail Hauberks at ranges of 100' or more (good archers could hit a man-sized target ad 300 yards, 9x greater than the range to reliably penetrate good armor).

By the times of the Battles of Crecy and Agincourt (famous from Shakespear's Henry V) Longbows using a "Clothyard" shaft tipped with a Bodkin point could defeat chain armor at greater ranges, and even penetrate steel plate at 50' or less. Using barriers of pointed stakes, set at an angle and the terrain of those battlefields the English were able to defeat the French Knights.

Mongols, Scythians, and Parthians using both stirrups and recurve compound (multiple laminated materials), firing from horseback, were able to fire arrows with nearly as much armor penetration capability nearly a thousand years before that!

In North America most bows were fashioned rapidly, and from unseasoned wood. That was all they needed, so they never really developed the art of bow making as was done in Europe, Asia, and to a lesser degree in the Middle East.

Europe and Asia both developed Short Bows in ancient times (and they remained in use for hunting, and sometimes by peasant levies or poor bandits into at least the 19th Century). For various reasons (not the least being physical size and strength of Roman skirmishers or axillaries) the Romans developed a form of crossbow using mechanical strength rather than physical strength. Continental Europe continued that method.

The Welsh, and later the English learned to selectively fashion bows made from specially selected parts of Yew trees, making use of layers, in particular the "heartwood" of the Yew tree. They also seasoned (aged) the wood to obtain desired qualities. Mongols, Scythians, and Parthians used bone, horn, and other materials. They would often stretch their recurve bows all winter long (in reverse of the way it would be strung to shoot) to provide increased tension (power).

The Pre-Columbian peoples of North America didn't need to put as much effort into construction of bows. Trees to produce suitable materials were uncommon, and unknown to those people. After the arrival of the Europeans, obtaining firearms was more practical than further developing their bows (although they continued to use them for hunting, and for combat into the 20th century).

That is the abridged "Readers Digest" version.

Wasn't there a rather thorough discussion of first settlers' bows and arrows starting with the issue of what type of wood they were made from?

Can anyone find it?

AJ