Bows and Arrows on Usenet

Most books say that the bow and arrow were invented some 15000 to 10000 years ago. This seems strange to me, seeing as how so many stone age populations around the world have invented the device independently of one another, and because it is such a simple tool compared to other artificial devices (tools, weapons, art) in use
before 15,000 years ago.

How do they date the bow and arrow? Is it only through the stone tips? Why would archeologists have any evidence of bow use before 13,000 BC, if at that remote time they had simply sharpened the end of the wooden shaft of an arrow instead of attaching a sharpened stone?

Here's how the discussion went on Usenet:


Bow and Arrow Dating

Bows and Arrows on Usenet