Bow drill
Taladro de arco
- Date
- c. 7000 BCE · confidence medium
- Place
- Mehrgarh, Balochistan, Pakistan
- Credited to
- Bead craftsmen of Mehrgarh and the Fertile Crescent
- Field
- Tools
⚠️ Disputed: the sources disagree.
What it is
A rotary drill powered by a bowstring, multiplying speed and precision compared with the hand drill. It allows hard stones (turquoise, lapis lazuli, carnelian) and dental enamel to be pierced.
The bow drill is inferred from drilling marks; no example this old survives.
What it led to
- An industry of semi-precious stone beads and luxury trade between the Indus, Iran and Mesopotamia
- More effective fire-making by friction
- The principle of converting reciprocating motion into rotary motion
Built on
- Cordage (twisted fibre string)c. 50 ka
- Bow
- Flint borer
Made possible
- Dentistry: drilling of teethc. 7000 BCE
- Slow-wheel (tournette) potteryc. 4500 BCE
- Faience (glazed quartz frit)c. 4200 BCE
- Abrasive jade working with tubular drillc. 3500 BCE
- Cylinder sealc. 3500 BCE
- Copper saw and metal woodworking toolsc. 3000 BCE
- Etched carnelian beads and Ernestite drillc. 2600 BCE
- Wood lathec. 1300 BCE
- Crank bracec. 1425
- Twist drill bit1861
- Bow lathe
- Drilling of stone axes