14th Annual Alaska Atlatl Event
1,397 views · Published 11 May 2012 · 1:48 · Indexed 27 October 2026
Channel: Anchorage Daily News · 2012 · Sports
Of all the words in the English language that are among the most fun to say, atlatl has to be near the top. And on Saturday at the Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage, the word, among other things, was being thrown around a lot. The atlatl (pronounced about how it looks: at-laddle) is a primitive spear-throwing device. Really, it's just a lever, adding speed and force that allowed ancient hunters to throw harder and farther than they could with just a hand-spear -- think the long plastic Chuckit used to throw that tennis ball farther for a dog. The projectiles launched by an atlatl are thin, lightweight spears generally referred to as darts by archaeologists. Saturday's event marked the 14th annual Atlatl Fun and Throw in Anchorage. Experts and amateurs gathered to describe the weapon and demonstrate. Read more: http://www.adn.com/video/alaska-atlatl-event-features-ancient-weapon
