Interesting, but I doubt the bit about the thumb indentation in the wood. It is on the shorter end for an unbacked bow, so I wonder if it is Osage. I also wonder if it was meant to be shot from a canoe, and that is why it is so short? I also wonder what the draw weight length was. Finally, do you think the bow was buried there by the original owner? I have heard of people doing that for various reasons.