Atl-Atl

ATL-ATL,
Is the Aztec name for this pre-historic weapon. It’s pronounced UT-LUT-EUL or UT-EUL-LA-TEUL, you choose which you prefer, either way it’s a tricky word.
Most of what I’ll describe here has been sourced from World Atl-Atl Magazine on the Internet. I have not been able to find any information on this subject anywhere else. Above all, I wanted to explore if any finds have been made in our region, which could be classified as being an Atl-Atl. I find it hard to believe that we here in Scandinavia wouldn’t have used the Atl-Atl technique. General beliefs are that Atl-Atl came from Europe over 30,000 years ago. Then it spread further and 12, 000 years ago, it was brought to current North America from where it spread across the continent down to South America.
By comparison, we know today that the bow was “invented” in different parts of the world at the same time. This could also have been the case with Atl-Atl as well.

We know that when the Conquistadors came to America, the Aztec whipped their ass. It was the weapon most feared by the Spaniards, particularly because it easily penetrated their armour.
As you know, this was about 500 years ago. The Inuits have used the atl-atl. Sitting in their kayaks, they threw their slender spears towards their prey. The aborigines in Australia hunted jumping Kangaroos with atl-atl.

Practically, the atl-atl is a catapult mechanism, with which you can throw a spear with greater force, then when just using your arm. Atl-atl is in two parts. It’s made up of an oblong slender piece of wood, with a hook in one end, where the spear is attached. In the other end is the handle. This is the part that is atl-atl. From hereon I’ll call it a more understandable word, like “spear thrower”. The other part is the projectile.
I don’t think there is any appropriate English word to use here. It’s too thin and short to be called a spear and too large to be called an arrow. Another word in English would be the word Dart. I’ll keep calling it a spear until I can think of something better. It’s important that the spear is flexible and can bend, store energy and spring off, leaving the spear thrower at the exact moment. This timing is very important.
So put down that broom handle and go down to the hardware store and buy a 10 mm dowel instead. Trust me, I was throwing with too stiff spears myself for some time, trying to figure out why it didn’t work. The spear should have some type of guiding fins in the rear and some weight at the tip, which is also important. In principal it should look like a large arrow for a bow. In the read you make a small notch for fastening the hook. This stuff is not so hard to make yourself. So get going, there just aren’t enough people who throw atl-atl.

You attach the rear of the spear to the hook on the thrower. Then place the spear parallel with the thrower piece. Hold the spear with your thumb and fore finger, legs apart, lean back, stretch our the other arm in front of you for balance, and launch the spear with maximum thrust. Check the pictures on the throwing sequence. It’s hard to start with, but most will find the technique. It feels awkward that you hold the spear thrower just as you also hold on to the spear. The hardest part is to make this work with one hand. You got to spread your fingers.

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