Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
Cultural Services

Item's Choctaw Name:  Tanamp Shibata

Item's English Name:  Bow

Age:  late1800s?

Material: Osage Orange Wood

Dimensions:

            Length = 142.8 cm

            Grip:

                        Width = 3.65cm

                        Thickness = 2.22cm

            Mid Limb:

                        Width = 4.13cm

                        Thickness = 1.91 cm

            Tip:

                        Width = 2.54cm

                        Thickness = 1.43cm

Origin: Choctaw (probably Oklahoma)

Current Owner: University of Missouri, Museum of Anthropology (Grayson Collection #1995-0679)

Notes: This implement is probably a hunting bow, made with metal tools. The cross section of the bow limbs is an oval, flatter on the belly than the back. The growth rings in the wood are closely spaced.  The back of the bow violates the growth rings length-wise. It appears that in some places the bow may have been cut from twisted wood, with attention being paid to the shape of the bow rather than keeping with a single growth ring on its back.

The handle is wrapped with a 2-ply string that has been attached with a thin layer of clear glue.  The two plies are composed of rolled fibers that look like strands of yarn.  The ends are put under about 15 wraps. The handle is 10.98cm long. The upper part of the bow has a pin nock, with depression to receive the string carved across the back and onto the belly.  Burnish in this area suggests the bow was repeatedly strung and unstrung.  The lower limb has double nocks.  String follow on the bow is 11cm.  The string is currently missing.