Department of Anthropology, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44242, USA.
Department of Anthropology, University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK, 74104, USA.
Sci Rep. 2023 Aug 16;13(1):13349. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-40451-8.
The atlatl is a handheld, rod-shaped device that employs leverage to launch a dart, and represents a major human technological innovation. One hypothesis for forager atlatl adoption over its presumed predecessor, the thrown javelin, is that a diverse array of people could achieve equal performance results, thereby facilitating inclusive participation of more people in hunting activities. We tested this hypothesis via a systematic assessment of 2160 weapon launch events by 108 people who used both technologies. Our results show that, unlike the javelin, the atlatl equalizes the velocity of female- and male-launched projectiles. This result indicates that a javelin to atlatl transition would have promoted a unification, rather than division, of labor. Moreover, our results suggest that female and male interments with atlatl weaponry should be interpreted similarly.
投矛器是一种手持的、杆状的装置，利用杠杆作用来发射标枪，代表了人类的一项重大技术创新。相对于被认为是其前身的投掷标枪，采集者采用投矛器的一个假设是，各种各样的人都可以取得相同的表现结果，从而促进更多的人参与狩猎活动。我们通过对 108 人使用这两种技术进行的 2160 次武器发射事件的系统评估，检验了这一假设。研究结果表明，与投掷标枪不同，投矛器使男女发射的投射物的速度相等。这一结果表明，从投掷标枪到投矛器的转变促进了劳动的统一，而不是分工。此外，我们的研究结果表明，带有投矛器的女性和男性的随葬品应该被同等对待。
