Understanding Atlatls: Ancient Spear-Throwing Devices
Atlatls, also known as spear-throwers, are ancient tools used for propelling spears with greater force and distance. They predate bows and arrows and were used for hunting large mammals. Modifications like adding weights and adjusting lengths impact the throwing distance. Factors like atlatl weight, dart material, and throwing style also play a role. Understanding these factors is crucial in utilizing atlatls effectively.
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Presentation Transcript
What it is Atlatls can be called spear throwers. They are basically a stick or short pole with some kind of hook made of wood or bone on one end. Spears are placed on the end off the tip and thrown with the atlatl causing them to go forward much farther and with more force than when thrown by hand.
History Atlatls were used prior to the bow and arrow . They were first used in the Paleolithic time period about 17,000 years ago. They were used to hunt large mammals like mastodons and buffalo. They began in Europe but spread with people over all of the populated earth into North and South America. Most people in Europe switched to the bow and arrow around 10,000 years ago but some people in North America continued using them up to around 500 years ago.
Modifications Weights can be added to the atlatl to give them a greater mass thus increasing the push that they give to the spear. Leather straps were added to the end that was held to keep the hand in the proper place. Spears became smaller and lighter to be thrown farther. Many are called darts or arrows.
Factors affecting distance thrown Length of the atlatl Weight of the atlatl Dart weight Dart material Dart balance Throwing style
Length Longer atlatls create a greater arc of throw and therefore a greater distance over which the dart is being propelled. The dart should be moving faster when released from a longer atlatl than from a shorter atlatl.
Weight of atlatl and dart Heavier atlatls are needed to throw heavier spears. Heavy atlatls are slower to move, though. You want to have the lightest atlatl for the weight of the spear/dart thrown. Adding stone weights increases the mass of the atlatl, allowing heavier spears to be thrown, but some speed will be lost. Lighter atlatls move faster and will flex when thrown, giving a final flick at the tip to propel the dart faster. The lighter the dart then the faster it can move.
Dart material It is important for the material that the dart is made of to be flexible. The dart is put onto the atlatl and held with pressure so that there is a slight bend to the shaft of the dart. This is stored potential energy that is released when the dart is thrown and propels it further. A too stiff shaft will not bend enough and will be able to store little or no energy. A too soft shaft will store energy, but the energy will not be released until after the dart is released from the atlatl.
Dart balance Balanced darts do not have to be fletched (have feathers added at the end). Fletching stabilizes darts but also slows them down. The tip end of the dart should be heavier than the rest of the dart. Typically the point is used to increase the mass of the tip. The shaft may taper to be slightly thinner at the end opposite the point.
Throwing style Throwing style needs to be developed individually and depends to some extent on the atlatl and darts being used as well as the distance and force that you want to throw the dart.
Atlatl video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ej3it7Ct76w
