m.e. nu nu wrote:
The Atlatl (or Atl-Atl, pronounced kindof like At-Lah-Tle) has been causing some controversy for the past couple months i suppose in Pennsylvania.

This is the story that i'm linking..
http://www.eveningsun.com/localnews/ci_3520369

I'm a pretty radical animal rights defender. But, I disagree again with most animal rights defenders when it comes to the ATLATL. Let it GO! Basically, this is an ages old hunting tool that takes great skill to throw. While I would never hunt, and think hunting is a little stupid and a lot cruel/dangerous (*begin shameless plug* just ask Harry Whittington */end shameless plug*) I think it's absurd to attack this one and insignificant facet of animal rights...

Irrespective of your view of the controversy, this post from m.e. led me to googling the atlatl, which was an interesting thing to learn about.

These weapons had many names in the respective cultures in which they were used. However, they were brought to prominence because they were used successfully by the Aztec of Mexico against the Spanish in the 16th century. The name atlatl, used in the Nahuatl language spoken by the Aztecs, came to dominance in European and American literature. The Spaniards dreaded these weapons that often pierced their protective armour. The word atlatl is a combination of the Nahuatl words for "water" and "thrower" in reference to the common use of the atlatls for hunting waterfowl and fish. Technically, only the throwing board is called an atlatl, but the term is now often used to include the throwing board and the small spear it propels.

The oldest atlatls in the world date back over 25,000 years in N.W Africa. The late Upper Paleolithic Magdalenian peoples of Europe made beautifully carved specimens from antler and bone 17,000 years ago.

RE: ATLATL!