What is the benefit of an atlatl?

Asked by: Alvin Morris

The atlatl or spearthrower is a hunting technology which was invented at least 17,000 years ago by Upper Paleolithic humans in Europe. Atlatls give additional velocity and thrust compared to spear-throwing, and they allow the hunter to stand farther away from the prey.

What is the advantage of using an atlatl to throw a spear?

An atlatl helped the hunter throw his spear because it gave him a “longer” throwing arm and greater throwing speed. Atlatls have been described as shaped like “oversized crochet needles” because they were about two feet long with a hook at the spear end. The back end of the spear fit into the atlatl.

Is an atlatl more powerful than a bow?

The effective killing distance on medium size prey using a typical Indian bow is 45 meters (Tomka 2013: 562) and this is almost twice as effective as the atlatl. The speed of an arrow is almost twice as fast as that of an atlatl dart (Tomka 2013: 563).

How far can a person throw an atlatl?

An atlatl dart can be thrown with the same penetrating power as an arrow shot from a 50-pound-draw longbow. Hunting and target range is typically 10 to 30 yards, but the world-record throw is over 848 feet.

Were atlatls used in warfare?

During the wars, Aztecs made use of a wide range of weapons, including many different kinds of spears. A unique weapon used by Aztecs in their fight was a special spear thrower called atlatl. Atlatl was used in a single hand-grab and allowed an Aztec warrior to throw his spear with more force, speed and accuracy.

How long should an atlatl be?

Atlatl Basics



A typical length for an atlatl is 18″–24″, although some have been found as short as 6″ (in California) and as long as 48″ (in Australia). Length is mostly a matter of personal preference, but it needs to fit the length of your arm and of the dart you’re throwing.

Can you throw an arrow with an atlatl?

So this is the atlatl. And this is what the Michalek dart it predates the bow and arrow. People.

What came first the atlatl or the bow and arrow?

Atlatls are ancient weapons that preceded the bow and arrow in most parts of the world and are one of humankind’s first mechanical inventions. The word atlatl (pronounced AT-lat-uhl) comes from the Nahuatl language of the Aztec, who were still using them when encountered by the Spanish in the 1500s.

What weapons shoot arrows?

We found 1 solutions for Weapons To Shoot Arrows . The most likely answer for the clue is CROSSBOWS.

Can I hunt with an atlatl?

Currently only two states, Missouri and Alabama, allow people to use atlatls for deer hunting. A handful of other states also permit the use of the atlatl for taking small game or nuisance animals. But most states are sitting on any proposals to legalize the spear-thrower due to doubts over its effectiveness.

How powerful is an atlatl?

The atlatl is simply a small spear-throwing device that provides leverage to throw an approximately 5-foot-long dart as fast as 80 or 90 miles per hour. The dart is pushed by the atlatl, which acts as a lever. As such, the motion of the human arm is amplified and that amplification results in a deadly projectile.

Why was the atlatl considered a valuable weapon for the Aztecs?

The leverage of the long atlatl allowed a thrower to fling a light spear much farther and faster than by hand alone.

When was the atlatl used?

about 21,000 to 17,000 years ago

The earliest secure data concerning atlatls have come from several caves in France dating to the Upper Paleolithic, about 21,000 to 17,000 years ago. The earliest known example is a 17,500-year-old Solutrean atlatl made of reindeer antler, found at Combe Saunière (Dordogne), France.

What are atlatl darts made of?

Darts propelled from this device were made in two parts: a long main shaft made of a long, straight, piece of wood, desert flower stalk, or hollow cane, and a short foreshaft usually made of wood.