Ready to throw

The Incredible Atlatl

Imagine a time when mega fauna roamed the Earth: mastodons, mammoths, aurochs, and megaceros. At least 20,000 years ago, our ancestors created a weapon that allowed them to bring food home to their families. The spear-thrower entered the scene, surviving in many parts of the world until a few hundred years ago. This simple device uses complex physics to add power to a hand thrown projectile. The common name "atlatl" comes from the Aztec word for spear thrower, but the atlatl existed in Australia (under the name "woomera"), in Asia and Europe starting in the Upper Paleolithic, and in the Americas, from the Arctic south to the deserts of the Southwest.

Throwing the dart

Lift off!

 Many times when I teach the atlatl to students, they say it is their favorite primitive hunting weapon. There is something profoundly elegant in its simplicity, but in range it matches a bow and arrow. I can throw a spear approximately 30 paces by hand, yesterday I threw a spear 102 paces with the atlatl!

Aiming

Throwing

 
 Yesterday half of the Friday Homeschool Group and I spent an hour throwing darts with the atlatl. It is easy to imagine our cardboard targets as mammoths and giant ground sloths, but I find that the atlatl develops an internal skills as well, centering on focus, balance and precision. We threw for accuracy and distance, but with every throw an understanding and application of the correct form must be achieved, otherwise the dart falls at one's feet. Watching it soar through the air, or slam into a cardboard target with a resounding impact, adds excitement and enthusiasm to the practice, while simultaneously creating an inner fortitude, and respect for our ancestor's skills with this ancient weapon.

High flyer

Dart sailing towards target

See the flex in the dart

Watch out mammoths!

Team Throwing

Baton grip

Split finger grip

The spurs

A variety of atlatls. Top to bottom: expedient made from chokecherry, scrap from a hickory bow, osage orange, hickory, black walnut (from a broken bow), Gambel's Oak from atlatl master Ken Wee.