Making the Prehistoric Atlatl and Dart System! This is the oldest hunting tool on the planet!

One of the oldest tools in the American Southwest is the atlatl and dart system. This hunting mechanism was used to successfully keep populations alive throughout prehistory and into modern times. In this video Jeff discusses prehistoric southwestern civilizations, Mesoamerican trade systems, and takes you step by step in making the Basketmaker atlatl.
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[@BillyJ244]

Amazing. Something old is now something new. It is a very effective weapon. Prehistoric people used these all over the planet. They brought down woolly mammoths with these. It is very cool to see one in action.

[@CliKnight]

Thank you so much for making this video.

[@zachh3541]

Pretty cool thinking about how some human realized you could make a longer double ended atlatl and connect the ends with cordage to launch a smaller dart.

[@MrRugercat45]

I have Justin Garnett’s book on making one of these and this video is incredibly informative and helpful. I will definitely be using it to make mine.

[@ltwig476]

I'm from the World Atlatl Association. We have atlatl competitions world wide. I build darts and atlatls and mostly compete in Ohio Pa and Indiana. NY and Mo. are the other two states with a lot of competition events. Many events are Fri Sat Sun but with a few 1 day events. We throw at a ISAC target from 15 meters and 20 meters. We only compete for our highest score of the year and help each other to attain our goal. Last year I was ranked 20th in the world and hope to make the top ten soon. A lot of us build our darts out of river cane, species of bamboo that grows throughout the US I get mine from along the Ohio river. The further south the more wild cane breaks that have yet to be destroyed. Most of our darts measure seven foot eight inches for men. For some women and children the darts can be smaller. Anything under 6 feet will shoot straight up into the air. I use a single finger hole basketmaker atlatl as do a lot of my colleagues. Most atlatls measure from 24" to 26". There are many different styles, with different banner weights and dart fletching. Most use a standard 3 feather fletching. 8inch turkey feathers. Everybody customizes their personal equipment or has someone build it for them. Except you don't need anything fancy to get started. It's just a throwing stick and a dart. If anyone is interested in this great sport go to World Atlatl Association and you can view our calendar of events across the world and the US. You can also view the semi annual scores and scores of previous years. There is also plenty of atlatl info on the site. WAA was startted in 1987 and we have thousands of members today. We teach how to throw and supply the equipment at all of our 3day events and it is free. Except if we are at a major state festival you must pay to enter the festival. Ohio Paw Paw festival is the largest with about 10,000 people. It's always fun to see new people get involved. I hope we see you out there!

[@andrewstrongman305]

They should not be referred to as 'atlatls'. 'Woomera' is the oldest known name for a spear-thrower; it should take precedence as the general name for these devices.

[@ltwig476]

@@andrewstrongman305 Here is how that could be debated. The atlatl refers to the throwing stick of indigenous middle America. Except there isn't any empirical evidence from where the word originated. The best we have from vast archeological studies is that the spear thrower enhanced stick originated in France or surrounding region. So whether it is referred as woomera or atlatl seems to be only regional language preference. Unless you have archaeological proof that the throwing system originated Aborigines. If so, we would love for you to share those findings. Iv'e built several styles of throwing sticks. I use a single hole basketmaker style in competition. I really enjoyed building the Aborigines style woomera. It being a much wider throwing stick, I was able to enhance the beauty of the wood I chose. It throws just as well as the others. Except my preference is a much skinnier lighter stick that won't take out my elbow, ending my competition career early. I agree that woomera is a cooler name and also better describes the sound it makes as projected forward past my ear. But we are kind of stuck with "atlatl" in the competition realm of things. After all it's called World Atlatl Association. Glad to hear your interest! I wish Australia had more folks interested in our world events.

[@andrewstrongman305]

@@ltwig476 I realise that we are stuck with 'atlatl', but as I said that comes from American civilisations thousands of years after Aborigines called their device a 'woomera'.

[@ltwig476]

@@andrewstrongman305 Yipper! And we think this method of hunting could be as much as 30,000 years old. As the ice cap melts, they are finding atlatls and partial darts still in-tact. There is an idea that they hunted caribou coming from the EU across the ice pack at least 25,000 years ago. Those hunting tribes could have came down through the Americas. For sure some came from the Bering Straight along the cost of Cali. But you'er correct as for known names of the throwing stick. Except woomera is way modern in comparison to how old the technology really is. It could of had many names or none at all, depending on where they were from and what language if any identifiable. I get your point. no pun intended. Ha Ha

[@KGTelePickerandChertKnapper]

Awesome stuff! Thank you for sharing this. New to the channel, but really enjoy the content I've watched so far. 👍

[@vulpesvulpes5177]

Ok. I’ve watched four of your videos. Your excellent at recreating weapons from historic cultures. I’m subscribed. Let’s see where your journey goes. Fox follows.

[@TaylorsAuthenticTraditions]

Siyo! Sgi for the awesome video! This helps me tremendously. Do you have a video on making atlatl darts?

[@Perkinator104]

Amazing work! I really like how you sometimes use stone tools. Really helps understand why they were carved they way they were. I imagine this style atlatl was used by the first Chickasaw and Choctaw people east of the Mississippi, as they came from the West, perhaps near where these Basketmaker atlatls were made.

[@fngrusty42]

Nice went a lot faster than i imaged. Plus i bet used dally would be very accurate. Thanks

[@seanycaufield6809]

Wow great video Jeff! Very informative

[@jamesburnett7085]

I am amazed by your knowledge and skill!

[@Wildernut]

Thanks for the explanation of the weight position.

[@storbunlimitedbushcraft6996]

Excellent work

[@draven3838]

Nicely made ,its a fun and useful tool, thanks for the video upload

[@felipeisacchar2957]

Great work of art

[@jerrychesley4395]

Thank you for the great tutorial 👍

[@sessary]

How do Basketmaker atlatls differ from others? How many different kinds of atlatls are assigned to a specific culture?

[@vulpesvulpes5177]

Broadly speaking the atlatl is divided into two distinct types. Those pre-younger dryas and those post. The younger dryas being that climatic episode about 12,000 years ago marking the mass extinction of the ice age mega fauna. The bow and arrow and the atlatl appear in history as far back as 40-60,000 years ago. Occasionally in the same cultural context. Pre-dryas atlatl we’re very heavy and used a two piece shaft. The point was large, sharp and polished. Example. The Clovis point in America and the solutrean point in Iberia. This was a tool for killing mega fauna. It was not a ranging weapon but rather designed to achieve penetration through hide, flesh and between bones into the vital organs of a mastodon. The hunter was obliged to get within paces to make his shot. Penetration of about 3 feet was required. Most kill sites that have been found contain several points suggesting that it took several darts to finally bring down the beast. “Spear” points are also found suggesting that the final kill was achieved once the animal was down, by thrusting a spear in to sever vital arteries. Remember they were killing animals as large as a modern cement mixer truck weighing 6-8 tons. Much as 19th century whalers killed whales with several harpoons to capture the whale so that the kill could be made with a long sharp lance. Post-dryas evolution of the atlatl is as our host describes. As the large game became extinct the atlatl evolved into a ranging weapon that began to compete with the bow and arrow. Again the bow and arrow had always existed along side the atlatl, two tools for different purposes. Until sometime in the 14th century. The atlatl in the hands of the basketmakers evolved into a medium range weapon of sufficient accuracy for the game. In other parts of America the introduction of the horse tipped the scale in favor of the bow and arrow and the atlatl slipped away to memory. I hope that answered your question. Fox out

[@sessary]

@@vulpesvulpes5177 Yes -- and thanks so much for taking the time to explain it in such detail. Much appreciated.

[@edgarhume8184]

Very good! Thank you.

[@jacoblee5546]

Awesome build! I was going to carve one out of maple And I was wondering what the overall dimensions of your thrower were end product? From here it almost looks like 1"wide 1/4" thick And 24" long

[@RobertLisac]

Wow, such a cool video!

[@pbfirearms5388]

If the weight determines if the dart hits point down or point up wouldn't it be better to throw the dart straight over hand instead of slightly side arm as you do? It looked like the dart was hitting tail right.

[@PrimitiveLifeways]

Really great comment here. Absolutely! I am a bow and arrow guy myself and am still working on perfecting my throw with this specific type of atlatl.

[@Flyfisher79]

What'd you wrap in the leather? Howed you get it rigid?

[@charmainegentz9543]

Can you tell me ,if when making darts for the Atlatl, do you put the fletching on the fat end ,where you put the dart into the handle ? Do you know ,of you have a child,that is 4 ft. What size Atlatl should he be using ?. Please?

[@shane9249]

Older than the thrusting type spear?

[@brianmincher716]

Older than a stick? Which makes a cane, staff, club, throwing stick and so many other tools and weapons that would have predated the atlatl by millennia.

[@charmainegentz9543]

Do you save the grit from the red stone, for paint ? From the red balance stone ?

[@PrimitiveLifeways]

i do not. It dries pink

[@dingdongdeo]

amazing

[@angelorobledo1536]

Problem is that making good dart is about 500 times harder than making a functional atlatl.

[@garycox5238]

Very good, however, the eye and a stick or stone are the oldest 😉

[@jimmartinette9655]

You are very good at what you do, you are very knowledgeable and you are a skilled craftsman, but don't use mixed tools (stone and steel). Go with stone first to be authentic, then make an easier version, using for the modern tools for everyday modern man. I like where your coming from though.

[@davidcopple8071]

Not quite accurate. Not the oldest hunting tool. Throwing rocks and wooden clubs predated the atlatl by thousands of years. Even if you're just talking about ranged weapons and hunting tool's. The throwing stick, aka the rabbit stick predates the atlatl by several thousand years. Rabbit sticks were carved and shaped for the most part although if you found a branch that had the right qualities needed for a rabbit stick. It could be used successfully without any modifications. But other than needing to make a weapon on the fly. Most rabbit sticks were carved and shaped much like a aboriginal boomerang.

[@vulpesvulpes5177]

Archeology is full of arguments about which tool came first. Or which tool was better. The most simple tools, the hand ax have been dated back over one million years in Africa. Wood tools like shafts and sticks seldom survive 40-60,000 years. Cave art is sometimes all that we have to suggest the exact type of tool usage. Additionally, our ancestors were just as clever as we are. They appear to have used the right tool for the right job. Arrows and atlatl are seen to coexist in some cultures. One for smaller game at range the other for large game up close and personal. Stones and sticks also are found for taking the smallest game. Down through time we see game populations shift from mega fauna to small game. From small game to intermediate. And at times from no game to an existence on roots and grubs. Then back to medium game. With each climate/environmental cycle the mixture of tool types in use adjusts. This topic is neither linear nor simple to describe. But from the prospective of our host in his chosen time period and culture, his statement is sufficiently accurate. Fox out.

[@RD-BRAUNSIN]

Yeah I'm sure we had a smash your head with a rock stab you with a pointy stick and beat you with a tree branch way before this. Might have even had some kind of stone on the end of a stick or maybe some rope around your throat type stuff or net I don't know no one knows but what we do know is It's definitely wasn't the first it's probably more like the 5th I mean obsidian Stone sharp get poked with it... ouch... I mean they used to carve beating hearts out with it So you know that's sharp they might even use bones of other animals as weapons before this I'd say this is one of the most advanced ones like it's probably this then the bow and arrow than the crossbow then the gun I mean it's like this is pretty high on the chart but this guy means well whatever not here to be mean like you I was like I don't think so buddy Good thought though. Fire might have been a weapon before this you know I'm sure fires a heck of a weapon if you're stuck inside of wooden home surrounded by a bunch of crazies with torches sure it's hey I'm going to get burnt to death here in a minute type stuff. I saw Jason Bourne use a book for a weapon one time just a hardback book it was awesome he stuck into somebody's throat wash wham woom throat chop pal. Taking a hardback book to you one pipe will drop anyone on the planet possibly kill them but not in this movie the guy took it straight to the throat and he still kept fighting but I mean you can tell it was effective

[@davidcopple8071]

@@vulpesvulpes5177 . Yes I agree. However. It's not exactly a stretch of imagination to figure out that the simpler weapons came long before the more complicated ones. Atlatl predated bows needs no archeological evidence. Although cave paintings do bare this out. But considering that the bow bow and arrow were far superior to the atlatl so we can simply use common sense and conjecture to understand that the simpler, shorter range weapon, although still in use in the bow and arrow era due mostly to how slowly new technology spread in the stone age world. But we have to agree that far superior hunting tools and weapons had to come after simply because if the bow was the older of the two technologies then nobody would have had any real reason to invent the atlatl and even if they did. Unless it served some purpose that a bow bow and arrow just couldn't perform at all or as well. Then the technology of the atlatl wouldn't have spread as it did. We probably wouldn't even know about it. So that was my original point. Throwing sticks and rocks at animals to kill or at least injure them so that they could more easily be caught and then killed. Was the Lowest technology of any that we know of. Before that idea hominids were mostly foragers and scavengers of other animals kills. Because before that very basic understanding of throwing a rock and then a stick came into use. Hominids , not being endowed with sharp teeth, claws, speed, etc. That other predators used. It was the slowly evolving brain that would have naturally begun with the simplist of ideas and tools. so after throwing rocks and sticks they would have naturally taken note of the rock shapes and weights that seemed to be easier to throw and were more accurate. And that then would have become the new technology. And then they may have noticed that certain shapes of sticks could be thrown more accurately and further than others. So that would have evolved from there. And so on and so forth. And I understand that the same technologies were capable of being discovered simultaneously in totally unconnected parts of the world. ie. The one hundredth monkey effect. For instance in totally isolated Australia the boomerang was developed by the aboriginal people there. And in the Americas at around the same time the native Americans were developing the rabbit stick which worked on exactly the same principle as the aboriginal boomerang. This was more of a product of duplicate needs and duplicate raw materials from which to develop them from. So in two total separate and isolated parts of the world. That bent stick broken off the tree that flew so much further and straighter than the other shaped sticks began to be improved upon by each of these totally separate peoples. Same thing happened with the sling, blowgun, and atlatl. But the point is. They didn't start with those.

[@keptleroymg6877]

Bro stfu that is obvious but even a carved rabbit stick isn't a sophisticated weapon like a thrower

[@aaronfieldman3957]

But it was the atlatl that moved homo sapiens from opportunistic killers, to an apex hunter

[@danreyvazquez3848]

Get clóser to the target

[@ianbruce6515]

The Atlat is not the oldest hunting tool on the planet--that's just plain silly! Older than the spear and the throwing stick?

[@andrewstrongman305]

It's not an 'atlatl', it's a 'woomera'.

[@PrimitiveLifeways]

Woomera is an Australian atlatl

[@andrewstrongman305]

@@PrimitiveLifeways Who came first, the Aborigines, or the Nahuatl? We have no clue what the spear-thrower was called 30,000 years ago in today's France, but the Aborigines have been using them here for at least that long. The earliest Mesoamerican civilisations formed about 3,600 years ago. Which name should have precedence?

[@PrimitiveLifeways]

@@andrewstrongman305 You are throwing a fit and being politically correct about a tool's name. Atlatl is a name that is used across the globe. Go yell at the wall sir.

[@andrewstrongman305]

@@PrimitiveLifeways You can't refute my point, so I'm off my tree, eh? How about you go fuck yourself, sir. Better yet, go tell an Aboriginal man that the ancient term for his spear-thrower has been superseded because white people found Central America before Australia.

[@Gavin55324]

Atlatl^

[@birdshenanigans8506]

God that was boring

[@charmainegentz9543]

What was boaring ?

[@roguerangerroger]

It takes one to know one. You yourself have no interesting value for anybody else to see.

[@Perkinator104]

This is not the subject for you. Real primitive arts takes a loooong time.

[@jacoblee5546]

Go back to video games and pot bud