title: The bow and cultural complexity of the Canadian Plains.
abstract: The timing and circumstances of the introduction of the bow and arrow into past North American economic and social lifeways have been sources of interest and controversy among archeologists for a very long time. Initial interpretations of the adoption of the bow and arrow generally seem to have been based on the rather straightforward assumption of functional superiority as a hunting tool. That is, the bow and arrow was simply a better instrument than the atlatl-dart technology it replaced. More recently, however, researchers exploring the effectiveness of the atlatl as a hunting tool have responded with studies that challenge the assumed universal functional superiority of the bow and arrow as a hunting device. Social coercion and warfare theory presents an alternative perspective on the adoption of the bow and arrow.
authors.affiliation: University of Calgary.
authors.forename: Dale
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Walde
mesh_terms: D001106:Archaeology; D002170:Canada; D003068:Coercion; D049690:History, Ancient; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000266:history; D013672:Technology / Q000266:history*; D014857:Warfare