An iconic spear-throwing device likely wasn't used by prehistoric hunters until around 10,000 years ago
New research challenges long-held assumptions about the Clovis culture’s hunting tools
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The brief
Archaeologists have found no evidence that the atlatl—a spear-throwing device long believed to be central to North America’s earliest hunters—was used by Clovis-era hunters around 13,000 years ago. Instead, coverage suggests its emergence likely occurred closer to 10,000 years ago, reshaping understanding of prehistoric hunting technology.
Coverage from *Popular Archaeology*, *IFLScience*, *Gizmodo*, *Yahoo*, and *Phys.org* highlights the absence of atlatl artifacts in Clovis-era sites, despite the tool’s iconic association with the culture. Experts cite the lack of physical remains as the primary reason for revisiting this assumption, with some questioning what other weapons may have been used for mammoth hunting.
Further archaeological excavations and dating studies will be critical to pinpointing the atlatl’s true origins. Researchers may also explore alternative hunting tools or techniques used by early North American hunters before its adoption.
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Quick answers
What is an atlatl?
A spear-throwing device used to launch darts with greater force and accuracy, often associated with prehistoric and Indigenous hunting cultures.
Why does this finding matter?
It challenges the long-standing belief that the atlatl was a key tool of the Clovis culture, prompting a reevaluation of early North American hunting practices.
What evidence supports this timeline shift?
The absence of atlatl artifacts in Clovis-era archaeological sites, combined with dating studies suggesting its emergence closer to 10,000 years ago.
Coverage (5)
- Origin of atlatl hunting in North America Popular Archeology · 15h ago
- “We Have No Idea What The Hell They Were Using”: Lethal Mammoth-Hunting Weapon Probably Wasn’t Part Of The Clovis Arsenal IFLScience · 15h ago
- Archaeologists Can’t Find Evidence for a Weapon Long Linked to America’s Earliest Hunters Gizmodo · 15h ago
- The Emergence of a Deadly Hunting Technology in Prehistoric North America Yahoo · 15h ago
- An iconic spear-throwing device likely wasn't used by prehistoric hunters until around 10,000 years ago Phys.org · 15h ago
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