OLD HISTORIC CALIFORNIA INDIAN BOWS ARROWS

Paul Douglas Campbel, author of "Earth Pigments and Paint of the California Indians: Meaning and Technology" searched Native American museums and private collections to include very detailed pictures and captions in his book. The book contains many more historical photos of authentic primitive aboriginal bows and arrows, primitive weapons used by warriors and hunters.

CALIFORNIA INDIAN BOOK REVIEW Excerpts:

Antique Painted Indian Bows Artifacts photos:

Old, reflexed, recurved, traditional bows of historic period from northern California. Yew wood with painted designs on sinew backs. The paint in some of these historic pieces appears to have been obtained in trade with European Americans. Left to right: Tolowa (93.2 cm long). Next, Hupa, reflexed with static recurved tips (96 cm X 9 cm at maximum width X .94 cm at mid-limb). Last, Pomo (90 cm long). Sapwood can be seen on the edge when viewed from the belly. Cross-section is thin and lenticular. Nocks formed by wrapping with sinew and covering with thin rawhide. Buckskin wrapped at grip. The sinew backing was covered and waterproofed with grey-brown powdered earth mixed with pitch. The pitch mixture also filled in the irregularities of the sinew on the back. Dated to around 1900. (Photographs on this and facing page courtesy of Museum of Anthropology, University of Missouri at Columbia. The Grayson Collection. Photography by Daniel S. Glover), page 162 of book (full-page photo), Painted Surfaces and Spiritual Power.

Antique Painted Indian Arrows photos:

Hupa hunting arrows, first five collected during the late 19th century (lengths from 77 to 80 cm, diameters around .84 cm). Dark blue and red bands under fletching as crests. Sinew binding of feathers painted red or blue. On left, foreshaft of bone with four barbs painted black with a red jasper point, side notched. Next two are slate points with saw-tooth edges. Fourth is a bone point and last, small red jasper. Area behind points, including sinew reinforcement, painted in black and red bands. Next six Hupa hunting arrows (around 76 cm long, diameters .8 cm) appear more recent. Blunt self points, two with short foreshafts. Red and blue bands for cresting and for decoration on shafts, red painted sinew. Detail on right is of second arrow from left of this second group: criss cross pattern in blue under the fletching made by painting over sinew spiral wraps and then removing the wraps. Photographs on this and facing page courtesy of Museum of Anthropology, University of Missouri at Columbia. The Grayson Collection. Photography by Daniel S. Glover, page 163 of book (full-page photo), Painted Surfaces and Spiritual Power.

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For Paul D. Campbell's complete documentation on Native American bow making, including detailed history on importantant California Indian bows arrows and arrowheads, please see his highly-recommended book:

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Photos and text courtesy of Paul D. Campbell, author of SURVIVAL SKILLS OF NATIVE CALIFORNIA, where the KUMEYAAY.INFO excerpted material was originally published. Paul's book features living Native American California Indigenous people, and details their traditional weapons used for hunting and aboriginal survival methods...Paul's book is available at Shumup Ko Hup Indian store WEBSITE HOWKA.COM.