Oldest Known Bow Recreated by Professional Bowyer

The Holmegaard bow is the oldest complete bow ever found; dating to roughly 7,000 BC (Mesolithic Period - Middle Stone Age). It was found alongside several other bows recovered from a bog in Denmark in 1963.

The Holmegaard bow is frequently mistaken for and/or used interchangeably with the Mollegabet artifact, but they're quite different. The Holmegaard is a fairly straightforward flatbow with a time-tested, pyramid-like limb profile. The Mollegabet, on the other hand, is kept wide for approximately 60% of its limbs before abruptly tapering to unusually narrow, rigid levers.

The design was trusted by the ancient hunter-gatherers; and remains in widespread use today. A well made Holmegaard is a solid hunting bow, with excellent durability and a quick, smooth cast. If you've never built one, I encourage you to give it a try. If you have, let me know your thoughts on Holmegaard bows in the comments below!

Instagram: @organic.archer

Website: www.organicarchery.com