# atlatls in ancient old-world armies?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlatls-in-ancient-old-world-armies/278855>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 9, 2004, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlatls-in-ancient-old-world-armies/278855 "2004-12-09T01:40:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Hooleehootoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/eada6e/32.png) [@Hooleehootoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hooleehootoo)\
**Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlatls-in-ancient-old-world-armies/278855/1 "2004-12-09T01:40:04Z")

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I thought the atlatl was a big technological breakthrough when it was invented. How come later armies using a throwing spear (javelin) did not use a spear-thrower?

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**Author:** ![Hooleehootoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/eada6e/32.png) [@Hooleehootoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hooleehootoo)\
**Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlatls-in-ancient-old-world-armies/278855/2 "2004-12-09T01:41:40Z")

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p.s. I know the Aztecs and other meso-americans used them. “Atlatl” is a Nahuatal word.

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**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\
**Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlatls-in-ancient-old-world-armies/278855/3 "2004-12-09T02:13:54Z")

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Australian aboriginals used a woomera for the same purpose.

Roman soldiers used a leather strap wrapped around javelins, but that was to impart spin not distance. As their purpose was to be flung just before impact, accuracy was more important than range.

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**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\
**Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlatls-in-ancient-old-world-armies/278855/4 "2004-12-09T02:20:10Z")

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In one of Graves’ Claudius books (and it has been years since I read either of them) I remember him specifically stating that some of the Germanic tribes used atlatls against the Legion.

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**Author:** ![adirondack\_mike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5a626/32.png) [@adirondack\_mike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adirondack_mike)\
**Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlatls-in-ancient-old-world-armies/278855/5 "2004-12-09T04:14:21Z")

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I’d guess it has to do with tactics. The atlatl has been around in Europe for some time. This [site](http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/5645/upperpaleolithic.html) shows an example from the upper paleolithic. I believe that the ancient greeks used the spear or javelin as a defence against cavalry in the phalanx. The invention of the bow and arrow made the spear or javelin obsolete as a routine artillary weapon (distance weapon). Still good hunting.