SYLVAN ARCHERY
TRADITIONAL ARCHERY SPECIALISTS

TRADITIONAL BOWS ARROWS & ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT FOR ARCHERS
MUSEUMS & QUALITY RE-ENACTMENT

PRIMITIVE & PREHISTORIC BOWS

Society for the Promotion of Traditional Archery

Bows as varied in type as the prehistoric Meare Heath and Holmegaard types, cable backed bows as used by the Inuit and in Siberia, and 'self' flatbows such as the osage bow to the left in the picture below, all fit into this category.

Hilary has meade a detailed study of the Meare Heath bow which was found just a few miles from her home in Somerset.

Hilary has made bows for the Ashmolean Museum (Holmegaard) and BBC (Meare Heath type), and is pictured right shooting an elm 'Mollegabet' style.

Obtaining materials of adequate quality to make 'approximations' of prehistoric styles can be time-consuming, but 'self' flatbows in primitive style can be made from a variety of woods and the necessary guidance is given as part of the bowmaking workshops.

The Traditional Archer's Handbook has dimensions and guidance on making your own 'primitive' bow.

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Meare Heath
Holmegaard/Mollegabet
Flatbows
Cable backed bows