the bows slender, circular in profile, with thin nocks and substantial set in the limbs, one made of two pieces of wood joined at the centre, the other thinner and made from a single piece of wood, in a glazed display case with the inscription ' Egyptian bows of Middle Kingdom (about 2000B.C.), the wood of Carob Bean (Ceratonia silliqua) native of Mediterranean region, the case of English Yew, presented to the Royal Company of Archers, "F.R.S. Balfour & A.N. Balfour, of Dawyck. 1936’; the arrowheads with a note: 'Flint Implement from Gibelun about. 2500BC' (4), each made of chert knapped from a blade core, with visible bulb of percussion on the tangs and pressure-flaked sawtooth edges, 111.0 cm in length

Frederick Balfour was initially employed in his family firm in London. He travelled extensively on business and made several expeditions to the Pacific coast of North America, on one occasion staying there for 4 years, acquiring a deep knowledge of forest trees. He introduced the cultivation of several pines including Picea brewiana and developed the Arboretum at the family estate at Dawyck near Peebles, which he had inherited from his father in 1886. In 1916 Balfour was sent to France to liaise with the French Army over supplies of timber, being appointed Lieut. Colonel for the purpose. His interest in forestry continued after the war and he travelled extensively to supplement the Dawyck collection. With many business interests and directorships, Balfour was a member of the King’s Bodyguard for Scotland, Royal Company of Archers and a local Justice of the Peace and Vice Lieutenant of the county in Peeblesshire (see Desmond 1945). His son, Alastair Norman Balfour (1909-96) was a member of Royal Company of Archers from 1930 onwards.

During the Old and Middle Kingdom, the most commonly encountered bow was of simple stave-like form, sometimes with a single or double curve. This was replaced by the composite bow from the Eighteenth Dynasty onwards, probably introduced by the Hyksos, along with the use of the horse and chariot and copper alloy for use in armour. See McLeod 1960 and Grayson 2004.