Bow or Boomerang?

[Dave]

<font size="2">Just read with some interest a#page on the# history of archery at the </font><font size="2">Thirsk Bowmen#website. The opening paragraph states <font color="#006600">&quot;From prehistoric times, the bow was a principal weapon of war and of the hunt throughout the world, except in Australia.&quot;</font> The site doen't go into any more depth as to why the prehistoric Australians didn't use the bow but I'm presuming that they had far more sense than their Northern hemisphere counterparts and used the boomerang (i.e. if you missed you didn't have to go hunting for your missile - it came back to you* ). My thoughts then meandered onto &quot;what if... the bow was never invented and everyone used the boomerang?&quot; It'd really be fun on today' s shooting lines </font></p>

[Haywain]

I remember a program sometime ago, where they were discussing this. It had something to do with the "landbridges" which connected the various continents. Australia's was the first to go, so when the bow was invented the technology never reached them, and their own unique invention took shape (so to speak).

[Dave]

That also explains the unique wildlife they have downunder. Talking of which, does anyone know if that herd* of wild Wallabies still survive in the UK? Can't remember where it was located, think it was somewhere in the south.

*not sure if this is the right collective term for wallabies!

[KevinH]

The wallabies are escapees from whipsnade zoo, Bedfordshire . I beleive they still abound in the area

[shawasha]

I think that the collective term for wallabies is a leap of Wallabies!

[Furface]

I believe the herd was located around Chatsworth in Derbyshire.

But, back to archery. Some thoughts. Was the relative speed and penetration of an arrow less necessary because of the Australian wildlife (can a wombat outpace a boomerang)? Or is the native wood not flexible enough to suggest a bow? And what does it say about inter-human relations? Is there such a thing as a "war boomerang"?

[Dave]

Furface - 8/4/2005 2:46 PM
And what does it say about inter-human relations? Is there such a thing as a "war boomerang"?

Apparently there is a 'war' boomerang that isn't designed to return to the thrower - just been doing a bit of reading at http://www.inspirationline.com/Brain.../Australia.htm It also mentions boomerang clubs and tournaments - where they do use returning boomerangs!

Unfortunately, research into the air speed velocity of the Wombat is proving a tad illusive at the mo' (does it have to be carrying a coconut )

[Toxophilus]

Speaking of which, how about a homing arrow - check this link out...

http://www.student.utwente.nl/~sagi/.../retarrow.html

[Haywain]

Toxophilus - 11/4/2005 3:20 PM

Speaking of which, how about a homing arrow

I've got plenty of them. Leave the wooden arrows out in a field for a week or so and they turn into arrows which can go round trees. A few months more and they could easily become homing arrows.

[dadicus]

wallabies. yes there still about and there spreading. get regular enquires from the aussie gov how there doing.
i shoot a bickerstaff special 40lb.
i read somewhere you could use hackleberry wood for longbows.