Stone Age female hunters launched this weapon for equality

On the other hand, atlatls, the ingenious devices that launched these javelins with even more power, have been around for tens of thousands of years.

The prevailing belief that hunting was primarily a male endeavor is challenged by this new study led by archaeologist Dr. Michelle Bebber from Kent State University.

The study's extensive experiments involved 108 novice participants, including Kent State students, who engaged in over 2,160 weapon launch events using both traditional javelins and atlatls. 

The results unequivocally supported the "atlatl equalizer hypothesis." 

Not only did the atlatl increase the velocity of projectiles compared to hand-thrown javelins, but it also leveled the playing field by equalizing the launch speed of both male and female participants.

Dr. Bebber noted that this discovery not only signifies a significant technological advancement but also underscores the likelihood of a unified division of labor within ancient hunting communities. 

“Our results suggest that female and male interments with atlatl weaponry should be interpreted similarly, and in some archaeological contexts females could have been the atlatl’s inventor," Bebber said in a press release. 

She noticed that females demonstrated remarkable ease in mastering the tool, often outperforming males without relying on brute strength.

Gender equality on the field

This aligns with observations from the animal kingdom, where female primates have been observed inventing hunting tools, reinforcing the notion that women could have been inventors of the atlatl.

“Many people tend to view women in the past as passive and that only males were hunters, but increasingly that does not seem to be the case,” she added.

The use of the atlatl appears to have diminished the advantages typically associated with male physical strength, allowing females to excel in wielding the device and launching darts. 

This new research not only transforms our understanding of ancient hunting dynamics but also provides a fresh perspective on the capabilities of women in prehistoric societies. 

The atlatl, once a symbol of technological advancement, is now also a symbol of gender equality, championing the contributions of women in shaping our shared human history. 

The complete study was published in Nature on August 16 and can be found here.

Study abstract:

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.