Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number

CAS 2014-0001-0070   CAS 2014-0001-0070; Atlatl
Category Weaponry
Object Name Atlatl
Culture Australian Aborigine
Global Region Australia
Country Australia
State/Prov./Dist.
County
Other Geographic Data
Maker's Name Unknown
Date of Manufacture ca. 1995
Collection Name N/A
Materials Wood; Pigment; Commercial twine
Description Atlatl (spear thrower) made from a single piece of wood flaring slightly toward the proximal end, then narrowing before widening again into a teardrop-shaped point; Distal end is notched and attached to the notch is a pointed peg into which the spear would tucked; Peg is secured with commercial twine that has been painted black; The peg has also been painted black, but only on the exposed portion, indicating it was painted after being secured to the body of the atlatl; Atlatl is painted red and covered in designs, except for the teardrop-shaped portion which is yellow and otherwise unadorned; One side shows a snake flanked by arrow or plant motifs below a man with bent knees and elbows; The reverse side shows a lizard facing a white and black design flanked by the same arrow or plant motifs.
Dimensions (cm) Width = 6.3, Thickness = 3.7, Length = 73.8