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from the I-didn't-know-what-it-was-either dept.
Bows are more accurate, have greater range, and can fire more frequently than spears. They mostly replaced the spear. In many areas where thrown spears were used for a longer time, a lever known as an atlatl was use to add power to the throws. Some Canadian researchers reckon that if bow use, for example, was learned by children using child-sized bows and arrows, then spear use would be learned by children using child-sized spears and atlatls. Now they seem to have found archeological evidence of that in Par-Tee, Oregon, USA where they have uncovered small, child-sized whalebone atlatls.
The Par-Tee atlatls were made during what appear to have been the last few centuries of the widespread use of these weapons on the northern Oregon Coast; they were perhaps employed alongside the newly introduced bow and arrow. Their unusually high abundance at Par-Tee—they are more numerous here than at any other site on the west coast of North America—is difficult to explain. Most atlatls were probably made of wood, and therefore do not survive in most archaeological settings. Although the use of whalebone for atlatls at Par-Tee has facilitated their survival at this location, the reason for the repeated selection of bone for the crafting of these weapons is unknown. The choice to employ whalebone cannot be explained by differential access to this material alone, as bones from these animals could have been found whenever they washed ashore. Furthermore, it is unclear whether the use of whalebone improved the performance of atlatls compared to other types of locally available material. Perhaps this use of whalebone represents unique practices of marking status through the use of the body parts of truly powerful animals. Alternatively, this could have been a means of indicating close relations to, or high regard of, these animals among the inhabitants of Par-Tee, who appear to have sometimes hunted whales.
Source: Learning to use atlatls: equipment scaling and enskilment on the Oregon Coast.
Even just a few hundred years ago, archers had far more skill than the inept fumblings we are used to seeing. Archer Lars Andersen demonstrates archery on another level. (Direct link to Lars Anderson's YouTube page.) His major complaint is lack of strength, so the strength and skill training for that must have historically started in childhood. So why not similarly for spears?
(Score: 4, Interesting) by insanumingenium on Tuesday December 17 2019, @12:18AM (6 children)
Lars Anderson isn't indicative of historical archery in any way, full stop.
He is a modern trick-shooter who uses some semi mystical historical tripe to inflate his achievements. None of his historical concepts have much, if any, validity. Most of it is out of context, misinterpreted, or otherwise manipulated. What he shows is in no way indicative of historical military or even hunting archery.
As for lack of strength, that might be explained by his use of low poundage bows and partial draws, exactly what you would expect for a trick shooter. This guy is the Jerry Miculek of archery, except where Miculek always demonstrates good safety practices, Anderson ignores them. Miculek also doesn't make a habit of claiming his trick shooting is indicative of some forgotten historical practice as a way of making his performances seem more impressive.
Archery does not require training from childhood to become adept. It certainly takes training, but is similar to firearms in that basic proficiency is very quickly gained, and purposeful practice can make just about anyone a skilled marksman. Conversely a lack of purposeful practice will leave a population of half trained adults claiming many years of fruitless experience. Having adult strength and coordination helps with any shooting sport. No one would make the claim that they make youth rifles because you have to start children shooting young to make them effective soldiers as adults. Absolutely, the additional need to build strength on a bow will make full proficiency take longer than learning to use a rifle, but it certainly doesn't take a lifetime's worth of dedication.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 17 2019, @12:42AM
Yeah Geena Davis nearly qualified for the Olympic team with only a couple years of practice.
(Score: 2) by RamiK on Tuesday December 17 2019, @01:29AM
I don't know anything about archery, but looking at how inverted rows, scapular pulls, arch hangs and negatives are used to get into proper form pull ups and muscle ups let alone real gymnastics, I'm guessing there were probably dozens if not hundreds of "tricks" fitting into movement progressions involving partial range-of-motion and reduced leverages that took quite a bit of years, and preferably starting from a young age, to be mastered only by a few.
compiling...
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 17 2019, @01:32AM
[Citation needed]
(Score: 3, Interesting) by hemocyanin on Tuesday December 17 2019, @02:20AM (1 child)
What does that mean really? Miculek is a great marksman. I'm not aware of him using anything anyone else can't have to achieve what he does. It's skill and practice that makes him or any other "trick" shooter great, at least so far as I'm aware. I suppose you could complain that he likes using moon clips because it makes revolver ejection more reliable, but anyone who wants to use moon clips can do that too if they want to, so I don't see it as a trick -- just using technology effectively.
I don't know anything about archery, but your comments disparaging Miculek's shooting makes me wonder though about the Lars Larson comments.
(Score: 2) by insanumingenium on Tuesday December 17 2019, @06:24PM
If you read that as being disparaging of Miculek's shooting then I wasn't clear at all. They are BOTH extremely qualified and talented trick shooters. My contention is that to claim that trick shooting has any relevance to practical usage is not supportable. Miculek doesn't make any such claims, Andersen absolutely does. I referenced Miculek because he is a well known trick shooter, but no one would argue that his trick shooting makes him a navy seal or a skilled hunter. Conversely the submission claimed modern archery is inept fumbling and suggested that Andersen "demonstrates archery on another level", which suggest Andersen's archery isn't showmanship, but practical archery, which is not accurate in the slightest.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 17 2019, @11:51AM
and you know all this from doing internet research?