The Holmegaard Bow

Some of the best known and well-preserved early prehistoric bows come from Scandinavia. These bows were recovered from the site of Holmegaard IV on the Danish island of Zealand. They are 154 cm and 184 cm respectively and date to around 6000 BCE. Both are made out of elm and are classified as self longbows with convex backs and flattened bellies.

 Two self longbows from Holmegaard, Denmark and Tybrind Vig, Denmark. Image taken from Bergman 1993, cited below.

Photo by thimosabv 

These famous bows have inspired many enthusiasts to recreate modern versions for recreational use. Here are just a couple of videos by youtube users demonstrating their creations in the field~

References:

Bergman, C. A. 1993. “The Development of the Bow in Western Europe: A

Technological and Functional Perspective.” Archeological Papers of the American Anthropological Association 4, no. 1: 95–105.