What are primitive bows like

[Deerhunter21]

So just a question but what are primitive bows design? not like a design but are they short? long? This is for elm BTW.

[Pat B]

Russell, it all depends of the people using them. Some are as short as 40"or less and other are 70" and more. Some are flat rectangular cross section where others are round cross section.
 My shortest elm bow was a 60" t/t static recurve. There is a build along in the "Archive" section I did from start to finish if you are interested.

[GlisGlis]

check google for "Holmegaard bow"
those are ancient (probably the oldest bows discovered ever) elm bows found in north europe
I guess that the first 'models' were probably very similar to english longbows
have a look at otzi (the iceman) bow. That one was yew but other similar elm bow were found

[Marc St Louis]

So just a question but what are primitive bows design? not like a design but are they short? long? This is for elm BTW.

I have to say your question is a bit confusing.

[Hawkdancer]

Might also check out the Meare Heath bow, found in Sussex, Wales - about 4,500 - 5,000 years old!  The term "primitive" is a bit confusing sometimes!  There are some good write-ups on line, but check their references and resources.
Hawkdancer

[DC]

On a recent episode of "Mystic Britain" they showed a bow that had been discovered recently in a bog in Britain. I didn't catch any details. Would anyone else know anything about it?

[Bryce]

On a recent episode of "Mystic Britain" they showed a bow that had been discovered recently in a bog in Britain. I didn't catch any details. Would anyone else know anything about it?

If you’re talking about the one that was found with the horse it was just a Holmegaard

[burchett.donald]

       There are many Native American examples around to look at also...Depends on what your definition of "primitive" is...

[Pat B]

A horse with a Holmegaard, interesting! 

[DC]

On a recent episode of "Mystic Britain" they showed a bow that had been discovered recently in a bog in Britain. I didn't catch any details. Would anyone else know anything about it?

If you’re talking about the one that was found with the horse it was just a Holmegaard

No horse that I remember. It was a very skinny bow, ELB sorta. They speculated that it might be quite light DW. I had the episode recorded but I erased it. I searched the net for it but no luck I believe it was the "Shaman" episode. I can't watch the video because i don't live in the states. It's on the Smithsonian Network.