Light versus Heavy Darts: Hunting Strategies of the Basketmaker and Other Atlatl Wielding Indians
Author(s): Devin Pettigrew
Year: 2008
Summary
J. Whittaker: Summarizes mechanics: lever action, not spring effect, needs flexible dart. Modern hunters using 8 oz (250 gm) darts, but BM equip was light.
Penetration experiment on cow carcass. Wooden darts heavier than cane, but dart can be changed by different foreshaft + point combinations. Tried different woods to split, and saplings. Chose Dogwood with oak foreshafts for heavy darts (Berg 8 oz, Frison 12 oz) and box elder for lighter White Dog Cave dart replicas.
Distribution of BM atlatls. BM atlatls curve upward slightly, and hook clears dart better if they flex some. Experiment used 8 oz, 12 oz wood darts, and 7 foot cane darts. Experiment inconclusive because of weak hafting of points - so no conclusions on penetration.
Cite this Record
Light versus Heavy Darts: Hunting Strategies of the Basketmaker and Other Atlatl Wielding Indians. Devin Pettigrew. . University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR. 2008 ( tDAR id: 423394)
Keywords
Spatial Coverage
min long: -129.199; min lat: 24.495 ; max long: -66.973; max lat: 49.359 ;
Individual & Institutional Roles
Contact(s): EXARC Experimental Archaeology Collection Manager
Record Identifiers
ExArc Id(s): 10206
Notes
Rights & Attribution: The information in this record was originally compiled by Dr. Roeland Paardekooper, EXARC Director.