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Spear-thrower facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Man with a spear-thrower, photograph by H. Basedow
A Wadaman man from the Northern Territory holding a spear-thrower.

A spear thrower is a wooden tool used for throwing spears. It gives the human arm more leverage to build up the spear's velocity. This gives the spear more force and makes it go faster. Spear throwers were used in many civilisations. It was used by the Aztecs, who called it an atlatl. It is also used by Aboriginals in Australia, where it has become most widely known as a woomera (the Dharuk name for it).

Images for kids

  • Aztec atl-atl (Museo Nacional de Antropología)

    Carved Aztec atlatl at the National Museum of Anthropology and History in Mexico City

  • Atlatl

    Depiction of an atlatl

  • Nativo do Novo Mundo lançando flecha com o propulsor ou estólica

    Atlatl in use

  • Bannerstone

    Bannerstone atlatl weight, c. 2000 BC. Archaic peoples; Ohio

  • Lombards Museum 135

    Ceremonial spear thrower, Peru, 1–300 A.D., Lombards Museum

  • Poised to launch a dart from an atlatl

    The thrower is checking to see that the dart has been correctly located on the spur of the spear-thrower; next she will turn her head in the other direction, aim and throw

  • Today is World Atlatl Day (4952910401)

    An Aleut atlatl from Nikolski, made in 1976

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Propulsor (arma) para niños

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