A composite bow is a traditional bow made from horn, wood, and sinew laminated together, a form of laminated bow. The horn is on the belly, facing the archer, and sinew on the outer side of a wooden core. When the bow is drawn, the sinew and horn store more energy than wood for the same length of bow. The strength can be made similar to that of all-wood "self" bows, with similar draw-length and therefore a similar amount of energy delivered to the arrow from a much shorter bow. However, making a composite bow requires more varieties of material than a self bow, its construction takes much more time, and the finished bow is more sensitive to moisture.
Reconstruction of a Ming dynasty Kaiyuan horn, bamboo, and sinew composite bow by Chinese bowyer Gao Xiang
A Korean master archer using a modern Korean composite bow
Ramses II at the Battle of Kadesh
Ottoman horse archer
The bow and arrow is a ranged weapon system consisting of an elastic launching device (bow) and long-shafted projectiles (arrows). Humans used bows and arrows for hunting and aggression long before recorded history, and the practice was common to many prehistoric cultures. They were important weapons of war from ancient history until the early modern period, where they were rendered increasingly obsolete by the development of the more powerful and accurate firearms. Today, bows and arrows are mostly used for hunting and sports.
A Karo boy holding a bow and arrow
Drawing a bow, from a 1908 archery manual
Scythians shooting with bows, Panticapeum (modern Kertch), 4th century BCE
A Subeshi culture bow, circa 800 BCE, Xinjiang Museum