Wooden atlatl with bone and bead decoration.

The atlatl, meaning “spear-thrower” in Aztec, has been used for at least 13,000 years and was likely brought across the Bering Strait when Native Americans migrated during the Ice Age. The atlatl lengthened the thrower’s arm and added an extra joint, which increased the efficiency of the throw (Taylor 2001, 59-61). Usually an atlatl is constructed to be about 20-30 inches long with a raised hook or spur at one end that engages the butt end of the spear/harpoon to be thrown. The hunter/warrior places the spear in the atlatl and casts the spear with an overhand motion, retaining the atlatl in his/her hand.