bow and arrow

Research has identified the composite bow as the most lethal weapon of the Bronze Age, challenging long-held beliefs about its origins and transforming our understanding of ancient warfare. A new study published in the Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory by archaeologist Gabriel Šaffa reveals that this revolutionary weapon appeared much later than previously thought, emerging in the Near East around 1600 BC rather than as early as 3300 BC as some scholars had believed. The findings overturn decades of speculation about the composite bow's development, demonstrating it was not an early innovation born from multiple cultures adapting to treeless environments, but rather a single breakthrough that rapidly spread across Eurasia. This sophisticated weapon, constructed from layers of wood, horn