ATLATL EXPERIMENT

Sarah Schmidt

 

          Anthropologists have conducted much research on the effectiveness and accuracy of the atlatl with limited experience using this spear thrower.  Most of these studies have concluded the atlatl to be an awkward and inaccurate tool, and many authors admit that their own lack of skill skewed their results.  However, true atlatl throwing experts are difficult to find, so this project attempts to determine whether or not experienced javelin throwers have better atlatl skills than the average person.  If so, then javelin throwers may be a helpful resource for future studies.

          Six experienced javelin throwers (5 student-athletes, 1 coach) were tested in distance and accuracy against six inexperienced subjects.  The two groups were further divided by age and sex for further comparison.  Although the data is sill being analyzed, overall the experienced javelin throwers performed better in both distance and accuracy.