Encyclopedia of Native American Bows, Arrows and Quivers, Volume 2: Plains and Southwest

By Steve Alley and Jim Hamm

223 pages, hardcover: $24.95

ISBN 0-9645741-5-2

Continuing on the American Indian theme, Steve Alley and Jim Hamm have a new book out that focuses on original Indian archery equipment. I reviewed their first book in this series in the January/February 2000 issue. That one covered Indian archery equipment from tribes in the Northeast, Southeast and Midwest. This one deals with bows, arrows and quivers from the Plains and Southwest tribes. 

As with volume one, the authors have researched impressive artifacts from museums and private collections around the world and rendered them as detailed pen and ink sketches for this book. These sketches include dimensions, cross-sectional views, construction details and a short description of the colors and the materials used in making the objects. In addition, all of the bow tips and arrows are shown actual size. The Plains tribes included in this volume are Blackfoot, Mandan, Arickaree, Crow, Sioux, Cheyenne, Arapaho, Pawnee, Kiowa, Kiowa Apache, Comanche and Pre-Columbian Texas. The Southwestern tribes include Apache, Seri, Mohave, Papago, Yuma, Pueblo, Hopi, Navajo and Anasazi.

This is another great source of information, particularly in regard to size and detail, for those wanting to hand-craft reproductions of original equipment. Unlike photographs, these sketches allow the authors to give full dimensions and highlight the decorative and construction details.

Copies can be ordered from Bois d'Arc Press, PO Box 87, Goldthwaite TX 76844. Shipping for one book is $3.50; for two, $5.00. Phone 915-938-5316. Website: <boisdarcpress.com>.

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