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Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Sir, do you have a permit for that atlatl?
From National Geographic News:
Pennsylvania hunters hoping to stalk deer with Stone Age spear- throwers may get their chance later this year. Today the state's game commission gave preliminary approval for hunting deer hunting using the atlatl and dart.
The ancient weapon uses a throwing stick to propel spearlike projectiles farther and harder than hunters can with arm power alone.
The atlatl (pronounced AHT-lah-tuhl) predates the bow and arrow and was first used some 20,000 to 25,000 years ago, possibly earlier, by hunters around the world.
The weapon appeared in the Americas about the same time humans arrived. It was brought to its technological apex during thousands of years of Native American use.
"It's first and foremost a hunting weapon, and I think that naturally this is what it should be," said Jack Rowe, an atlatl enthusiast from Sayre, Pennsylvania, who lobbied for approval.
Full story and original graphic here.
Posted by Will at January 25, 2006 03:06 PM in In the News