10-14-2010, 09:22 AM
In a self-bow, a bow made from a single piece of wood like the English longbow or the flatbow, there is no great climatic issue with dampness and the like, depending on the bowstring used. Under very cold conditions, a wooden bow does become more brittle, but that sort of conditions do not spell much good for composite bows or torsionweapons, either. I believe many of the Roman bows would have been self-bows. A great quantity of arrowheads were found at Xanten, of various types, dating first and second century, so at least there, a significant number of archers may be presumed. As far as I know, there have not been finds of composite bow-componants (grips and bone plates) in any number. I believe a bow is a more accurate weapon at range then a sling, but that may be up for debate, as I have little experience with slings myself.
