Final answer:
Projectile weapons are rare in the archaeological record due to organic materials decaying over time, the cumbersome nature of early firearms, and the rapid evolution in weaponry which made previous models obsolete.
Step-by-step explanation:
Projectile weapons are rare in the archaeological record for several reasons. One significant reason is the survival of materials over time. Many early projectile weapons were made from organic materials such as wood, which decay and disintegrate over time, leaving little trace for archaeologists to find. Furthermore, early firearms like the arquebus were heavy and cumbersome, making them difficult to maneuver and maintain, leading to less frequent use and preservation. Also, the improvement in firepower and armour development meant that projectile weapons also evolved rapidly, thereby leaving behind fewer artefacts from any given period for us to find today.
As societies transitioned from nomadic to settled ways of life, there were shifts in military technology. The transition to firearms and the increasing effectiveness of guns and cannons created a dynamic in which earlier styles of projectile weapons became obsolete and were replaced by more advanced technology. This replacement would naturally result in fewer old-style projectile weapons being available for discovery in archaeological contexts.