Abstract
A spearthrower , or atlatl, works as a lever to propel a light spear or dart , but there are still alternative theories about the mechanical principles. Howard proposed that atlatls work by extending the time force can be applied to a spear. Others suggest that the flex of the atlatl or the dart, or both, stores energy to propel the dart as from a spring. Both of these theories can be demonstrated to be wrong by a variety of evidence, including slow motion images. Those who believe that spearthrowers work by spring power often see them as ancestral to bows . Because they work by different principles, this is highly unlikely. Understanding how a spearthrower works is important in examining its capabilities and place in the evolution of technology, and both practical experimentation and theoretical understanding are necessary.
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Whittaker, J.C. (2016). Levers, Not Springs: How a Spearthrower Works and Why It Matters. In: Iovita, R., Sano, K. (eds) Multidisciplinary Approaches to the Study of Stone Age Weaponry. Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-7602-8_5
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