Spear-thrower

A man standing on flat, grassy ground holding a wooden spear-thrower. He is naked except for a small loin cover.
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).[1]

References

  1. Earp, G. Butler (1852). The Gold Colonies of Australia. London: Geo. Routledge & Co. p. 126. Retrieved 21 October 2011.

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