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 |
Shooting w. an
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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