Bow Dating

[Koontz John E]

Per Melvin L. Fowler & Robert L. Hall, 1978, 'Late Prehistory of the
Illinois Area' in HBNAI 15, "The bow and arrow was introduced into
Illinois by A.D. 700 and replced the atlatl and throwing spear as a
principle weapon."  (560a) "The earliest radiocarbon evidence in Illinois
for the bow and arrow comes from Klunk Mound 8 in Calhoun County with a
date of A.D. 600 +/- 110 (M-1233; Crane & Griffin 1964:6) and from the
Scovill site with its date of A.D. 450 +/- 120.  Wray & McNeish 1961
suggested that "The use of the bow and arrow may have made available new
sources of food and new methods of warfare which helped break up the old
[Hopewellian] order."  (561a)

Unfortunately, this sort of summary comment can get rapidly out of date.