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Atlatl (Atl-atl) Spear throwing tool
What is an atlatl?
This tool was used in some form by many early hunters or
warriors to give them a greater distance when throwing a projectile, usually
a spear or dart (darts were fletched with feathers like arrows where as
spears were not). The benefit of using an atlatl was leverage which resulted in
the projectile traveling at a greater speed and therefore greater distance. It
takes a great deal of practice to become proficient in throwing a spear without
the atlatl but is compounded by about tenfold when using one. Once mastered the
person using it was feared by their opponents in battles of old.
How to make an atlatl:
Basically an Atlatl is a piece of wood about 2/3 the length
of the spear or dart that is to be thrown. One end should have a slight
bend that was usually a natural bend in the small tree that the atlatl was
made from. The other end commonly had pocket either carved in the basal
spread where the roots began when the stick was growing in the ground or it was
made from a piece of hide. The fletched or dull end of the spear was placed on
this pocket and the other end of the atlatl was gripped by the thrower.
The shaft was either laid across the knuckles of the throwing hand or between 2
fingers held upright cradling the stem of the atlatl or even
possibly rested on a platform made from a branch stub left on the stick.
Others were carved from a single larger piece and had holes on the grip
end for the 1st and 2nd finger to curl through thereby creating a nice notch
between the knuckles for the shaft. Still again some atlatl had a spur made from
the remnant of a branch. This spur fit into a notch on the dull end of the
projectile in lieu of a pocket. Atlatls varied from location to location and by
purpose. Some were extremely ornamental and others utilitarian. A surprising
understanding of physics is obvious and even enhanced in some instances with weights
that could be slid up or down the stem of the atlatl for balance and flywheel
effect.
How to use an atlatl:
The hunter or warrior would load the projectile into the
atlatl and then draw their arm back and to the side while holding the
spear tip just slightly up of horizontal
  
The arm is rapidly brought
forward, launching the projectile.
Because of the atlatl acting as an extension
of the arm by almost twice the normal length, it meant that the projectile would
travel at nearly twice the normal speed, (some speed is sacrificed because the
leverage takes away from some of the strength).
You may never need to spear game to survive but if the need
should ever arise, your results may be improved by the use of a Atlatl.
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