An Introduction to the Atlatl

Author(s): David Wescott

Editor(s): Richard Jamison; Linda Jamison

Year: 1994

Summary

J. Whittaker: [OK intro, but too many errors]. He has an interesting concept of different kinds of atlatl systems: “throwing board” = rigid, heavy harpoons; “spear thrower” = some flex, long heavy spears [but atlatls don’t go back to Neanderthal times]; “flexible system” = SW, flexy light atlatls and darts with weights and other tuning; “casting stick” = baton de commandment and other thong-using throwers and very flexy atlatls [not the same]. [His explanations borrow too much from Perkins’ incorrect ideas of flex, and “tuning” and his diagram of throwing shows the atlatlist leaning forward and an unflexed dart.]

Cite this Record

An Introduction to the Atlatl. David Wescott, Richard Jamison, Linda Jamison. In Woodsmoke: Collected Writings on Ancient Living Skills. Pp. 176-189. Birmingham, AL: Menasha Ridge Press. 1994 ( tDAR id: 423434)

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

Keywords

General
Atlatl • Hunting • Weapon

Geographic Keywords
USA

Temporal Keywords
Chalcolithic • Mesolithic • Neolithic • Palaeolithic

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): 10246

Notes

Rights & Attribution: The information in this record was originally compiled by Dr. Roeland Paardekooper, EXARC Director.