Comparing Atlatls and Bows: Accuracy and Learning Curve

Abstract

It is difficult to compare two different technologies that serve similar purposes, especially when the skills of experimenters must also be considered. I conducted experiments to show that bows should be more consistent and accurate than atlatls, and that proficiency with a bow is more easily attained. However, competition between weapon systems and the choice of one over the other in any real world situation is far more complex than such general measures.

Keywords:

• atlatls
• bows
• skill

Douglas Bassett and Anne Feltovich provided data and commentary and kindly gave permission for me to use their statistics. Others who loyally shot atlatls or bows in the summer heat with Anne and me as part of this project included Toby Austin, Gaelyn Hutchinson, John Seebach, Avi Pogel, Ben Shirar, Carl Whittaker, and Kenji Yoshino. Charlie Brown of Arvada CO made and donated my primitive bow. The editors and four anonymous reviewers provided usefully critical commentary.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

John C Whittaker

Correspondence to: John C. Whittaker. Email: [email protected]