PAGE 1
AN INDIANA ATLATL
(SPEAR THROWER)
ARCHAIC CULTURE
DAVIS COUNTY, INDIANA
EST. 6,000 B.C. TO 3,000 B.C.
PAGE 1 OF 2 PAGES
COPYRIGHT DECEMBER 31, 2003 PETER A. BOSTROM
Drawing of an arm holding an atlatl that is propelling a spear.
ARM HOLDING AN ATLATL THAT IS PROPELLING A SPEAR OR DART

Abstract image of several altatl hooks.
A COMPLETE ATLATL ASSEMBLAGE
DAVIS COUNTY, INDIANA
ARCHAIC PERIOD

   This article illustrates and describes a complete atlatl (spear thrower) assembly that was found several years ago in Davis County, Indiana. Complete atlatls, less the wooden shafts, have been found in North America but they are fairly rare. The antler handle and hook on this example is very well preserved, although the wood shaft that once held them together is long gone.

   "Barbed antler artifacts interpreted as spear throwers are known from the Magdalenian (15,000 to 13,000 years ago in France); these tools can increase the velocity of a propelled spear."---1988, Tattersal, Delson & Couvering, "The Encyclopedia of Human Evolution and Prehistory,"
    "The males (Illinois Hopewell) buried in the central log tombs often suffered from arthritis of the elbow, while those buried in the surrounding earth rings had arthritis of the wrists instead. This suggests that the central, presumably high-ranking males may have been hunters who frequently used spear-throwers, which caused stress on the elbow joint, while the peripheral males may have been craftsmen".---1992, Stuart J. Fiedel, "Prehistory of the Americas," page246.
    "At an early age every boy (Aztec) was taught the use of the bow and arrow and spear thrower. At fifteen years of age, all boys except-----went to live in boarding schools, called houses of youth, where they were taught the art of war---."---1972,
Harold E. Driver, "Indians of North America," page 326.

Multiple images of an atlatl assembly.
MULTIPLE IMAGES OF AN ATLATL FOUND IN DAVIS COUNTY, INDIANA

ATLATLS
AND
AN ATLATL FROM INDIANA

    One of the earliest weapons invented by mankind was the spear. It was used by ancient cultures all around the world by throwing and thrusting them. They didn't achieve their maximum effectiveness until they began to be used in conjunction with spear throwers. A spear thrower produces three basic desirable effects. It considerably increases the velocity, distance and penetration of these large projectiles.

Atlatl handle, bannerstone and hook.
CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGER IMAGE

ATLATL HANDLE, BANNER-STONE & HOOK
ARCHAIC PERIOD
DAVIS COUNTY, INDIANA
PRIVATE COLLECTION

   These three artifacts were found several years ago by William Miller. Together they make up a complete assembly for an atlatl, except for the wooden shaft that would have connected them together. The handle is made of antler and measures 3 1/2 inches (8.9 cm) long. The hole or cavity in this handle that once held the wooden shaft measures 1 5/16 inches (4.1 cm) wide. The banner-stone is a simple humped type. It is made of green banded slate and measures 2 18 inches (5.3 cm) long and 1 7/16 inches (4.7 cm) wide. The narrowest part of the drilled hole measures approximately 7/16 of an inch (11mm) wide and 11/16 of an inch (1.7cm) wide at the opening. The hook is made of antler and it measures 2 inches (5.1 cm) long.

    Five or six foot spears or darts can be propelled over 100 miles per hour with a spear thrower. One record long distance throw for a spear or dart was made in 1995 by Dave Ingvall who threw one 848.56 feet which is almost the length of two football fields. Aztec warriors are reported to have thrown spears or darts completely through the Spanish armor, a feat that would have been impossible without the use of an atlatl.

Atlatl antler hook.
CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGE TRIPLE IMAGE

ATLATL HOOK
ARCHAIC PERIOD
DAVIS COUNTY, INDIANA
PRIVATE COLLECTION

     This atlatl hook is fairly well preserved although some of the hafting area has eroded away. It was found in Davis County, Indiana by  William Miller. This atlatl hook is made of antler and it measures 2 inches (5.1 cm) long.

     Spear throwers have been called throwers, dart throwers, spear throwers, board throwers, atlatls, nuqaqs and woomers.  In Australia, they are called a woomera and in the Americas they are called an atlatl. Eskimo cultures were using atlatls when the first Europeans arrived in Alaska. In the lower Yukon they are called a nuqaq. The Aztec were using them in Mexico against Cortez. In fact, the word atlatl comes from one of languages (Nahuatl) of the Aztec. Some of the noble Aztec warriors had finely crafted atlatls that were decorated with gold (gilded).

CONTINUE ON TO PAGE TWO

"REFERENCES"

1939, Knoblock, Byron W., "Banner-stones of the North American Indian," pp. 148-149.
1955
, Garrod, Dorothy A.E., "Paleolithic Spear-Throwers"--"Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 21",  page 21.
1972
, Driver, Harold E., "Indians of North America," pp. 7-8, 85, 326.
1981
, Stuart, Gene S., "The Mighty Aztec," page 172.
1988, Tattersall, Ian, Delson, Eric & Couvering, John Van, "Encyclopedia of Human Evolution & Prehistory,"  pp. 535-536.
1991, Lewis, R. Barry (editor), "Kentucky Archaeology," page 227.
1992, Fiedel, Stuart J., "Prehistory of the Americas", pp. 33, 66-67, 104, 122, 246, 353.
1993, Frison, George C., "From Kostenki To Clovis" (chapter 17) "North American High Plains Paleo-Indian Hunting Strategies and Weaponry Assemblages," page 244.

1999, Kamminga, Johan & Mulvaney, John, "Prehistory of Australia," page 89.
1999, Boldurian, Anthony T. & Cotter, John L., "Clovis Revisited, New Perspectives on Paleoindian Adaptations From Blackwater Draw, New Mexico," page 94.

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