In the time between the use of the hand-thrown spear and the advent of the bow and arrow, a curious adaptation of the spear came about. In the Aztec language, Atlatl means "spear thrower". An atlatl is about two feet long and similar in appearance to a large crocheting needle, with the hook of the needle being fitted into the end of the dart. The dart is held with the thumb and index finger while the atlatl is held with the last three fingers. The Atlatl is an innovation used to significantly enhance the effectiveness of throwing a lightweight spear called a dart. The Atlatl represents a significant improvement in both hunting and warfare over the traditional hand-thrown spear due to the fact that this device provided a mechanical advantage, increasing the power and speed of the dart compared to throwing a spear by hand. It is believed that the powerful atlatl may have led to the extinction of the woolly mammoth in North America.
The Atlatl was used primarily before the introduction of the bow and arrow, which was introduced approximately 2,000 years ago. It is estimated that the Atlatl was in use from 14,000 years ago to over 40,000 years ago, according to various sources. The oldest known example of an atlatl is estimated at being over 19,000 years old. The atlatl seems to have been known throughout much of the world. Australian Aborigines know the atlatl as the "Woomera". Evidence of the device has been found in Europe and in North America. Hunters following the migrating herds across present-day Alaska and into North America may have brought the atlatl to North America. Columbus noted that the atlatl was in use by North Americans that he encountered in the New World. An atlatl approximately 8500 years old has been found in Nevada. Jeffers Petroglyphs in Minnesota indicate that the atlatl was in use in the area between 2500 and 5000 years ago. This ancient weapon was used by the natives to resist the Spanish conquistadors and Cortex in the 1500's. Reports indicate that the atlatl dart was capable of piercing the armor of the invaders and the barb on the end of the six-foot darts effectively pinned the soldiers inside of their suits of armor where they slowly died. The atlatl, a relic compared to the firearms and armor of the Spanish, was still a formidable weapon in the hands of an expert user who could accurately fire its deadly dart at a range of over 100 yards.
The atlatl imparts force to its projectile, known as the dart, through great mechanical advantage. The key to this system is the use of a flexible dart. As the atlatl is used to launch the dart, the dart bends momentarily and stores energy like a compressed spring. When the dart releases the stored energy by returning to its normal shape the dart is launched from the atlatl at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour. The technical explanation of the forces at work involves Newton's First Law of Motion. Atlatl weights were developed to maximize the effect of the atlatl on the dart. The position of the weight on the atlatl determines how much the dart will flex during the launch process. Weights of different masses could be used to fine-tune the performance of the dart and the atlatl until a match was found, thereby maximizing the effect of the atlatl/dart combination. The launch of the dart from the atlatl caused a zip-like noise. A type of weight system known as the "bannerstone" had the effect of silencing the noise caused by the atlatl.
The atlatl is an ancient weapon system that greatly improved the effectiveness of the more traditional hand-thrown spear. It was a great innovation in hunting and warfare in its time. However, it had been largely replaced by the bow and arrow around the time Christ was born. Explorers noted it was still in use in the New World around 500 years ago by the natives of North America. Today the atlatl is used for recreational use as well as for competition and hunting. Atlatl and dart construction today is either of the traditional construction or of modern, high-tech materials and methods. The ancient atlatl was made from wood, ivory, antler or bone. The modern day atlatl and dart combinations may be made of high-tech composite materials. This ancient weapon was used for perhaps 40,000 years as a very effective weapon for hunting and warfare. Today, atlatl enthusiasts who use this mechanical wonder for hunting, competition, and recreation keep interest in the atlatl alive.
References:
Website: http://www.pclink.com/cbailey/atl.htm
Website: http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/4201/admech.html
Website: http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/tbprim1/Atlatl.html
By Linda Robinson