The Spear and The AtlAtl
Leaf-shaped stone heads found
in archaeological sites, as well as large points of bone
and shell, give clear evidence
that spears have long been used throughout North American both for hunting
and warfare. The Piegan Indians of Alberta actually
used spears in warfare until the 1860's.
Soon however, the need to
effectively strike at a distance to reduce personal danger led to the
development of another weapon; the
atlatl - the Aztec word for spear-thrower. This weapon of ancient origin
was
widely used not only in prehistoric Europe, but also in Australia, Africa,
Central and
Northern Americas. Although the atlatl was an effective weapon in skilled
hands, it has some limitations and was gradually replaced by the bow.
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Hunting w. the Atlatl
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Shooting a Indian Flat Bow |
Bow and
Arrows
The bow and arrows became the
most natural weapon imaginable for the Plains Indian Warrior.
It was the first childhood plaything of which he had recollection.
Proud fathers placed a miniature bow and a few blunted
arrows in their son's hands before they were four years
old, and from then on, they practiced constantly until
shooting with them became an instinctive part of their
nature.
Although the introduction of the bow is quite recent in the Americas,
by the time the first white man arrived it was widely used
by
natives on both continents.
The most
common type of bow was the simple wood bow or self-bow which was
made of a single piece of wood. Osage also called "Bois d'Arc" and
yew where the best bow woods. But North American Indians used a large
variety of
other woods
such as ash which was one of the most popular bow woods
on the
Plains. They also used hickory, elm, maple, black locust, oak, birch and
sometimes even saplings. Besides
the plain self wood bow, native bowyers built rawhide and sinew lined
bows. These bows were often shorter but also
stronger and powerful
.
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