Section: Projectiles
Variable: Atlatl (All coded records)
The absence or presence of atlatl as a military technology used in warfare.  
Atlatl
#  Polity  Coded Value Tags Year(s) Edit Desc
1 Spanish Empire I absent Confident Uncertain Expert -
Did Spanish soldiers ever use New World weapons? Used against the Spanish by Maya. [1] We need to know whether the Habsburgs used them.

[1]: (Pemberton 2011, preview) Pemberton, John. 2011. Conquistadors: Searching for El Dorado: The Terrifying Spanish Conquest of the Aztec and Inca Empires. Canary Press eBooks Limited. https://www.zotero.org/groups/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/3SI549GS


2 Chalukyas of Badami absent Confident Expert -
Weapon found only in the New World.
3 Post-Mauryan Kingdoms absent Confident Expert -
Weapon that has only been found in the New World.
4 Delhi Sultanate absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
5 Gahadavala Dynasty absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
6 Hoysala Kingdom absent Confident Expert -
Weapon used only in the New World.
7 Kannauj - Varman Dynasty absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
8 Magadha - Maurya Empire absent Confident Expert -
Known as a New World weapon.
9 Satavahana Empire absent Confident Expert -
Weapon that has only been found in the New World.
10 Akkadian Empire absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
11 Neo-Babylonian Empire absent Inferred Expert -
Absent in previous and subsequent polities
12 Uruk absent Inferred Expert -
Weapon of the Americas
13 Susiana - Muhammad Jaffar absent Confident Expert -
Not mentioned in evidence and extremely unlikely being a weapon of the Americas
14 Buyid Confederation absent Confident Expert -
Weapon of the Americas.
15 Formative Period absent Confident Expert -
Not mentioned in evidence and extremely unlikely being a weapon of the Americas
16 Susiana B absent Confident Expert -
Not mentioned in evidence and extremely unlikely being a weapon of the Americas
17 Susiana - Late Ubaid absent Confident Expert -
Not mentioned in evidence and extremely unlikely being a weapon of the Americas
18 Elam - Shutrukid Period absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
19 Elam III absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
20 Pre-Ceramic Period absent Confident Expert -
Not mentioned in evidence and extremely unlikely being a weapon of the Americas
21 Seleucids absent Confident Expert -
Weapon of the Americas.
22 Elam - Late Sukkalmah absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
23 Susa I absent Confident Expert -
Not mentioned in evidence and extremely unlikely being a weapon of the Americas
24 Susa III absent Confident Expert -
Not mentioned in evidence and extremely unlikely being a weapon of the Americas
25 Icelandic Commonwealth absent Inferred Expert -
No evidence could be found that Norse warriors used the atlatl, or spear-thrower. Most of the scholarly literature on the subject appears to focus on world regions outside of Europe.
26 Ashikaga Shogunate absent Confident Expert -
Could not find any evidence of use. Weapon of the Americas, extremely unlikely to be in use here
27 Japan - Incipient Jomon absent Confident Expert -
No archaeological evidence for this. Moreover, the scholarly consensus is that the Jomon were relatively peaceful.
28 Kara-Khanids absent Confident Expert -
Weapon of the Americas, extremely unlikely to be present here
29 Early Angkor absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon
30 Funan I absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
31 Bronze Age Cambodia absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
32 Segou Kingdom absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
33 Eastern Turk Khaganate absent Confident Expert -
Weapon of the Americas, highly unlikely to be present here
34 Xianbei Confederation absent Confident Expert -
Weapon of the Americas, extremely unlikely to be here
35 Late Xiongnu absent Confident Expert -
A new world weapon, highly unlikely to have been used here
36 Archaic Basin of Mexico absent Inferred Expert 6000 BCE 4001 BCE
"In Mesoamerica [...] tools that could double as weapons, including handheld spears and spearthrowers (atlatls) [...] have been found as early as 4000 BC". [1]

[1]: (Hassig 1992: 12-13) Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/E9VHCKDG.


37 Early Illinois Confederation absent Inferred Expert -
Sources only mention bows and arrows, muskets, war-clubs, knives, and hatchets [1] . It should be noted that sources that specifically describe the way the Illinois Confederation waged war are relatively rare.

[1]: Illinois State Museum, The Illinois, Technology: Weapons (2000), http://www.museum.state.il.us/muslink/nat_amer/post/htmls/te_houses.html


38 Kachi Plain - Aceramic Neolithic absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon. Only flint, bone and copper tools tools have been found at Mehrgarh [1]

[1]: Petrie, C. A. (in press) Chapter 11, Case Study: Mehrgarh. In, Barker, G and Goucher, C (eds.) Cambridge World History, Volume 2: A World with Agriculture, 12,000 BCE - 500 CE. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge


39 Kachi Plain - Ceramic Neolithic absent Confident Expert -
Only flint, bone and copper tools tools have been found at Mehrgarh [1]

[1]: Petrie, C. A. (in press) Chapter 11, Case Study: Mehrgarh. In, Barker, G and Goucher, C (eds.) Cambridge World History, Volume 2: A World with Agriculture, 12,000 BCE - 500 CE. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge


40 Kachi Plain - Chalcolithic absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon. Only flint, bone and copper tools tools have been found at Mehrgarh [1]

[1]: Petrie, C. A. (in press) Chapter 11, Case Study: Mehrgarh. In, Barker, G and Goucher, C (eds.) Cambridge World History, Volume 2: A World with Agriculture, 12,000 BCE - 500 CE. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge


41 Sind - Abbasid-Fatimid Period absent Inferred Expert -
new world weapon
42 Kachi Plain - Urban Period II absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
43 Sakha - Late absent Confident Expert -
not mentioned in any of the sources that deal with weapons and armor
44 Fatimid Caliphate absent Confident Expert -
new world weapon
45 Middle Bronze Age in Central Anatolia absent Confident Expert -
weapon of the Americas
46 Konya Plain - Early Chalcolithic absent Confident Expert -
New world weapon.
47 Hatti - Old Kingdom absent Confident Expert -
weapon from Americas
48 Konya Plain - Late Neolithic absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon
49 Ottoman Empire I absent Confident Expert -
weapon of Americas
50 Phrygian Kingdom absent Confident Expert -
weapon of the Americas
51 Tabal Kingdoms absent Confident Expert -
Not mentioned in literature and extremely unlikely to be present, being a weapon of the Americas
52 Haudenosaunee Confederacy - Early absent Confident Expert -
Iroquois warfare is relatively well documented, so the fact that source do not mention the atlatl suggests that there weren’t used, or that they weren’t particularly common.
53 Proto-Haudenosaunee Confederacy absent Inferred Expert -
Many sources mention thrown and ranged projectile weapons, but no mention of the atlatl.
54 Cahokia - Late Woodland II absent Confident Expert -
"Beginning A.D. 300-400, the bow replaced the atlatl in most regions" [1] However, not regularly used as a weapon: evidence of victims "struck by arrows and clubs" increased only during "last half of the first millennium" [2]

[1]: (Blitz and Porth 2013, 89-95)

[2]: (Milner 2006, 174)


55 Cahokia - Late Woodland I absent Confident Expert -
"Beginning A.D. 300-400, the bow replaced the atlatl in most regions" [1] However, not regularly used as a weapon: evidence of victims "struck by arrows and clubs" increased only during "last half of the first millennium" [2]

[1]: (Blitz and Porth 2013, 89-95)

[2]: (Milner 2006, 174)


56 Oneota absent Confident Expert -
Code checked by Peter Peregrine. Previous notes: Archaeological evidence for warfare appears to "only" include "[d]efensive structures around villages, violent injuries on human remains, "trophy heads," the abandonment of regions, and the positioning of sites in ever more defensive positions" [1] , though a few weapon types can be cautiously inferred, such as bow and arrows and spears [2] , and, at a later date, firearms [3] .

[1]: G. Gibbon, Oneota, in P. Peregrine, M. Ember and Human Relations Area Files, Inc. (eds.) Encyclopedia of Prehistory: Volume 6: North America (2001), p. 391

[2]: P.S. Martin, G.I. Quimby and D.Collier, Indians Before Columbus (1947), p. 316

[3]: Illinois State Museum, Late Prehistoric, Technology: Weapons (2000), http://www.museum.state.il.us/muslink/nat_amer/pre/htmls/lp_weapons.html


57 Samanid Empire absent Confident Expert -
Weapon of the Americas, extremely unlikely to be used here
58 Timurid Empire absent Confident Expert -
Weapon of the Americas, extremely unlikely to be in use here
59 Yemen - Late Bronze Age absent Inferred Expert -
These do not appear to be included in depictions of "warriors" in North Yemeni rock-art from the Late Neolithic and Bronze Age, as reproduced in Jung (1991). [1] However, Jung himself does not state these were not in use, nor does he remark on their absence in said depictions.

[1]: (Jung 1991) Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/JP9KX5BK.


60 Neolithic Yemen absent Inferred Expert -
These do not appear to be included in depictions of "warriors" in North Yemeni rock-art from the Late Neolithic and Bronze Age, as reproduced in Jung (1991). [1] However, Jung himself does not state these were not in use, nor does he remark on their absence in said depictions.

[1]: (Jung 1991) Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/JP9KX5BK.


61 Yemen Ziyad Dynasty absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
62 Canaan absent Confident Expert -
-
63 Ottoman Emirate absent Confident Expert -
-
64 Ottoman Empire II absent Confident Expert -
-
65 Late Shang absent Confident Expert -
Technology used in the new world. Unlikely.
66 British Empire IIIIIIIIII absent Confident Expert -
-
67 Ayyubid Sultanate absent Confident Expert -
-
68 Ptolemaic Kingdom I absent Confident Expert -
-
69 Ptolemaic Kingdom II absent Confident Expert -
-
70 Egypt - Period of the Regions absent Confident Expert -
-
71 Archaic Crete absent Confident Expert -
-
72 Classical Crete absent Confident Expert -
-
73 The Emirate of Crete absent Confident Expert -
-
74 Final Postpalatial Crete absent Confident Expert -
-
75 Geometric Crete absent Confident Expert -
-
76 Hellenistic Crete absent Confident Expert -
-
77 Monopalatial Crete absent Confident Expert -
-
78 Neolithic Crete absent Confident Expert -
-
79 Postpalatial Crete absent Confident Expert -
-
80 Hawaii III absent Confident Expert -
-
81 Kalingga Kingdom absent Confident Expert -
-
82 Kediri Kingdom absent Confident Expert -
-
83 Medang Kingdom absent Confident Expert -
-
84 Greco-Bactrian Kingdom absent Confident Expert -
Weapon of the Americas, extremely unlikely to be present here
85 Kidarite Kingdom absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
86 Tang Dynasty II absent Confident Expert -
New world weapon.
87 Tocharians absent Confident Expert -
Weapon of the Americas, extremely unlikely to have been in use here
88 Eastern Han Empire absent Inferred Expert -
New world weapon, unlikely.
89 Erligang absent Inferred Expert -
Technology used in the new world. Unlikely.
90 Longshan absent Inferred Expert -
Technology used in the new world. Unlikely.
91 Great Ming absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon
92 Northern Wei absent Inferred Expert -
New World weapon, unlikely.
93 Peiligang absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
94 Sui Dynasty absent Inferred Expert -
New World weapon.
95 Tang Dynasty I absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
96 Early Wei Dynasty absent Inferred Expert -
New World weapon.
97 Western Han Empire absent Confident Expert -
New world weapon
98 Western Zhou absent Confident Expert -
Unlikely, New World weapon.
99 Badarian absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
100 Egypt - Dynasty I absent Confident Expert -
new world weapon
101 Egypt - Dynasty II absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
102 Egypt - Inter-Occupation Period absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon
103 Egypt - Mamluk Sultanate I absent Confident Expert -
new world weapon
104 Egypt - Mamluk Sultanate III absent Confident Expert -
new world weapon
105 Egypt - Mamluk Sultanate II absent Confident Expert -
new world weapon
106 Egypt - Middle Kingdom absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon
107 Naqada I absent Confident Expert -
new world weapon
108 Naqada II absent Confident Expert -
New world weapon.
109 Egypt - New Kingdom Ramesside Period absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
110 Egypt - New Kingdom Thutmosid Period absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon
111 Egypt - Classic Old Kingdom absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
112 Egypt - Late Old Kingdom absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
113 Egypt - Saite Period absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon
114 Egypt - Thebes-Hyksos Period absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon
115 Egypt - Thebes-Libyan Period absent Confident Expert -
New world weapon
116 Atlantic Complex absent Confident Expert -
Not mentioned in the literature.
117 Beaker Culture absent Inferred Expert -
Not mentioned in the literature.
118 French Kingdom - Early Bourbon absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
119 Proto-French Kingdom absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
120 French Kingdom - Late Capetian absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
121 Carolingian Empire I absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
122 Hallstatt A-B1 absent Confident Expert -
Not mentioned in the literature.
123 Hallstatt B2-3 absent Confident Expert -
Not mentioned in the literature.
124 Hallstatt D absent Confident Expert -
Not mentioned in the literature.
125 Early Merovingian absent Confident Expert -
Not discussed in consulted literature RA.
126 Middle Merovingian absent Confident Expert -
Not discussed in consulted literature RA.
127 La Tene B2-C1 absent Confident Expert -
Spears are described, but not spear-throwers.
128 French Kingdom - Early Valois absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
129 French Kingdom - Late Valois absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
130 Ashanti Empire absent Inferred Expert -
Weapon of the Americas.
131 Iban - Pre-Brooke absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
132 Iban - Brooke Raj and Colonial absent Confident Expert -
New world weapon.
133 Majapahit Kingdom absent Confident Expert -
New World Weapon.
134 Mataram Sultanate absent Confident Expert -
New World Weapon.
135 Yehuda absent Confident Expert -
-
136 Yisrael absent Confident Expert -
-
137 Late A'chik absent Confident Expert -
-
138 Vijayanagara Empire absent Confident Expert -
-
139 Abbasid Caliphate II absent Confident Expert -
-
140 Latium - Bronze Age absent Confident Expert -
-
141 Latium - Copper Age absent Confident Expert -
-
142 Latium - Iron Age absent Confident Expert -
-
143 Ostrogothic Kingdom absent Confident Expert -
-
144 Rome - Republic of St Peter II absent Confident Expert -
-
145 Papal States - High Medieval Period absent Confident Expert -
-
146 Papal States - Early Modern Period I absent Confident Expert -
-
147 Papal States - Early Modern Period II absent Confident Expert -
-
148 Papal States - Renaissance Period absent Confident Expert -
-
149 Early Roman Republic absent Confident Expert -
-
150 Late Roman Republic absent Confident Expert -
-
151 Middle Roman Republic absent Confident Expert -
-
152 Roman Empire - Principate absent Confident Expert -
-
153 Western Roman Empire - Late Antiquity absent Confident Expert -
-
154 Chalukyas of Kalyani absent Confident Expert -
Weapon found only in the New World.
155 Deccan - Iron Age absent Confident Expert -
Weapon that has only been found in the New World.
156 Deccan - Neolithic absent Confident Expert -
Weapon that has only been found in the New World.
157 Chalcolithic Middle Ganga absent Inferred Expert -
New World weapon.
158 Neolithic Middle Ganga absent Inferred Expert -
New World Weapon.
159 Early A'chik absent Confident Expert -
new world weapon
160 Gupta Empire absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
161 Gurjar-Pratihara Dynasty absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
162 Kadamba Empire absent Confident Expert -
Weapon found only in the New World.
163 Kampili Kingdom absent Confident Expert -
A weapon used only in the New World.
164 Magadha absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
165 Mahajanapada era absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
166 Mughal Empire absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
167 Rashtrakuta Empire absent Confident Expert -
Weapon found only in the New World.
168 Magadha - Sunga Empire absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
169 Vakataka Kingdom absent Confident Expert -
Weapon found only in the New World.
170 Abbasid Caliphate I absent Inferred Expert -
New World weapon
171 Early Dynastic absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
172 Neo-Assyrian Empire absent Confident Expert -
Weapon of the Americas.
173 Southern Mesopotamia Neolithic absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
174 Ubaid absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
175 Ur - Dynasty III absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
176 Achaemenid Empire absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
177 Ak Koyunlu absent Confident Expert -
New World weapons.
178 Elam - Awan Dynasty I absent Confident Expert -
Not mentioned in evidence and extremely unlikely being a weapon of the Americas
179 Elam - Crisis Period absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
180 Elymais II absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
181 Ilkhanate absent Confident Expert -
new world weapon
182 Susiana A absent Confident Expert -
Not mentioned in evidence and extremely unlikely being a weapon of the Americas
183 Susiana - Early Ubaid absent Confident Expert -
Not mentioned in evidence and extremely unlikely being a weapon of the Americas
184 Elam - Kidinuid Period absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
185 Elam - Igihalkid Period absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
186 Elam I absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
187 Elam II absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
188 Parthian Empire I absent Confident Expert -
new world weapon
189 Parthian Empire II absent Confident Expert -
Weapon of the Americas
190 Qajar absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
191 Safavid Empire absent Confident Expert -
Weapon of the Americas
192 Sasanid Empire I absent Confident Expert -
new world weapon
193 Sasanid Empire II absent Confident Expert -
new world weapon
194 Seljuk Sultanate absent Confident Expert -
Weapon of the Americas.
195 Elam - Shimashki Period absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
196 Elam - Early Sukkalmah absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
197 Susa II absent Confident Expert -
Not mentioned in evidence and extremely unlikely being a weapon of the Americas
198 Roman Kingdom absent Inferred Expert -
RA couldn’t find relevant information, but don’t appear in book on warfare [1] . Expert advice is needed.

[1]: (Fields 2011)


199 Asuka absent Inferred Expert -
Weapon of the Americas, no evidence of use
200 Japan - Azuchi-Momoyama absent Inferred Expert -
Could not find any evidence of use
201 Heian absent Inferred Expert -
Could not find any evidence of use
202 Japan - Early Jomon absent Confident Expert -
No archaeological evidence for this. Moreover, the scholarly consensus is that the Jomon were relatively peaceful.
203 Japan - Final Jomon absent Confident Expert -
No archaeological evidence for this. Moreover, the scholarly consensus is that the Jomon were relatively peaceful.
204 Kamakura Shogunate absent Inferred Expert -
Could not find any evidence of use
205 Nara Kingdom absent Inferred Expert -
Could not find any evidence of use
206 Tokugawa Shogunate absent Inferred Expert -
Could not find any evidence of use
207 Jenne-jeno I absent Inferred Expert -
-
208 Jenne-jeno II absent Confident Expert -
-
209 Jenne-jeno III absent Inferred Expert -
-
210 Jenne-jeno IV absent Confident Expert -
-
211 Early Mongols absent Confident Expert -
-
212 Byzantine Empire II absent Confident Expert -
-
213 Byzantine Empire III absent Confident Expert -
-
214 East Roman Empire absent Confident Expert -
-
215 Yangshao absent Inferred Expert -
Technology used in the new world. Unlikely.
216 Western Turk Khaganate absent Confident Expert -
Weapon of the Americas, extremely unlikely to be in use here
217 Classical Angkor absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon
218 Late Angkor absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon
219 Khmer Kingdom absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon
220 Chenla absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
221 Funan II absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
222 Bronze Age Cambodia absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
223 Andronovo absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
224 Saadi Sultanate absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
225 Bamana kingdom absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
226 Songhai Empire - Askiya Dynasty absent Inferred Expert -
new world weapon
227 Khitan I absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
228 Late Mongols absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
229 Rouran Khaganate absent Confident Expert -
Weapon of the Americas, extremely unlikely to be present here
230 Early Xiongnu absent Confident Expert -
A new world weapon, highly unlikely to have been used here.
231 Xiongnu Imperial Confederation absent Confident Expert -
A new world weapon, highly unlikely to have been used here
232 Kingdom of Norway II absent Inferred Expert -
No evidence could be found that Norse warriors used the atlatl, or spear-thrower. Most of the scholarly literature on the subject appears to focus on world regions outside of Europe.
233 Indo-Greek Kingdom absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
234 Kachi Plain - Post-Urban Period absent Confident Expert -
No evidence for weapons or armor, apart from arrowheads, spearheads, daggers and axes, have been found at Pirak. [1]

[1]: Jarrige, J-F. (1979) Fouilles de Pirak. Paris : Diffusion de Boccard.


235 Kachi Plain - Pre-Urban Period absent Confident Expert -
New world weapon.
236 Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
237 Sind - Samma Dynasty absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
238 Kachi Plain - Urban Period I absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
239 Sakha - Early absent Confident Expert -
not mentioned in any of the sources that deal with weapons and armor
240 Egypt - Kushite Period absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon
241 Umayyad Caliphate absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon
242 Ayutthaya absent Confident Expert -
New world weapon
243 Rattanakosin absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon
244 Konya Plain - Early Bronze Age absent Confident Expert -
weapon of the Americas
245 Konya Plain - Late Bronze Age II absent Confident Expert -
weapon of the Americas
246 Byzantine Empire I absent Confident Expert -
Generally not found in this region - weapon of the Americas.
247 Late Cappadocia absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon
248 Konya Plain - Late Chalcolithic absent Confident Expert -
weapon of the Americas
249 Hatti - New Kingdom absent Confident Expert -
weapon of the Americas
250 Kingdom of Lydia absent Confident Expert -
weapon of the Americas
251 Lysimachus Kingdom absent Inferred Expert -
New World weapon
252 Konya Plain - Ceramic Neolithic absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon
253 Konya Plain - Early Neolithic absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon
254 Neo-Hittite Kingdoms absent Confident Expert -
weapon of the Americas
255 Ottoman Empire III absent Confident Expert -
-
256 Cahokia - Lohman-Stirling absent Confident Expert -
-
257 Cahokia - Moorehead absent Confident Expert -
-
258 Kingdom of Hawaii - Kamehameha Period absent Confident Expert -
-
259 Cahokia - Emergent Mississippian II absent Confident Expert -
-
260 Cahokia - Sand Prairie absent Confident Expert -
-
261 Koktepe I absent Confident Expert -
-
262 Sabaean Commonwealth absent Confident Expert -
-
263 Durrani Empire absent Inferred Expert -
new world weapon
264 Ghur Principality absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
265 Hephthalites absent Confident Expert -
Weapon of the Americas, extremely unlikely to have been present here
266 Kushan Empire absent Confident Expert -
Weapon of the Americas and extremely unlikely to have been present here
267 Western Jin absent Inferred Expert -
New World weapon, unlikely.
268 Erlitou absent Confident Expert -
Technology used in the new world. Unlikely.
269 Jin absent Inferred Expert -
Unlikely, New World weapon.
270 Northern Song absent Inferred Expert -
Unlikely, New World weapon.
271 Shuar - Colonial absent Confident Expert 1676 CE 1830 CE
Spear-throwers were probably obsolete by the Ecuadorian period, but it seems clear that during the sixteenth century the Shuar used lances, spear throwers, and bows and arrows: ’Sometime during the latter part of the seventeenth century the bow and arrow and the spear thrower began to go out of use, being replaced by the blowgun with poison darts... The use of the spear thrower appears now to be entirely forgotten by the Jivaros.’ [1] ’The spear-thrower is made of a piece of wood about 69 cm. long, with a groove hollowed on its upper side to receive the handle of the javelin; the rear end of the latter butts against the edge of the spear-thrower. The spear-thrower has a hole on its lower surface at the junction of its posterior and middle thirds, where the Indian puts his index finger in order to throw the javelin, as the illustration shows. The complete apparatus measures about 1 meter long.’ [2] 1675 was selected as a provisional date of transition, although the historical process was more fluid than that.

[1]: Stirling, Matthew Williams. 1938. “Historical And Ethnographical Material On The Jivaro Indians.”, 79-86

[2]: Rivet, Paul. 1907. “Jivaro Indians: Geographic, Historical And Ethnographic Research.”


272 Japan - Initial Jomon absent Confident Expert -
No archaeological evidence for this. Moreover, the scholarly consensus is that the Jomon were relatively peaceful.
273 Japan - Middle Jomon absent Confident Expert -
No archaeological evidence for this. Moreover, the scholarly consensus is that the Jomon were relatively peaceful.
274 Japan - Late Jomon absent Confident Expert -
No archaeological evidence for this. Moreover, the scholarly consensus is that the Jomon were relatively peaceful.
275 Kansai - Kofun Period absent Inferred Expert -
Weapon of the Americas, no evidence of use
276 Warring States Japan absent Inferred Expert -
Could not find any evidence of use
277 Kansai - Yayoi Period absent Inferred Expert -
Weapon of the Americas, no evidence of use
278 Roman Empire - Dominate absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon
279 Rum Sultanate absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
280 Haudenosaunee Confederacy - Late absent Confident Expert -
Iroquois warfare is relatively well documented, so the fact that source do not mention the atlatl suggests that there weren’t used, or that they weren’t particularly common.
281 Cahokia - Late Woodland III absent Confident Expert -
"Beginning A.D. 300-400, the bow replaced the atlatl in most regions" [1] However, not regularly used as a weapon: evidence of victims "struck by arrows and clubs" increased only during "last half of the first millennium" [2]

[1]: (Blitz and Porth 2013, 89-95)

[2]: (Milner 2006, 174)


282 Cahokia - Emergent Mississippian I absent Confident Expert -
Checked by Peter Peregrine.
283 Khanate of Bukhara absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
284 Ancient Khwarazm absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
285 Koktepe II absent Confident Expert -
Weapon of the Americas, extremely unlikely to be in use here
286 Sogdiana - City-States Period absent Confident Expert -
Weapon of the Americas, extremely unlikely to be in use here.
287 Himyar I absent Confident Expert -
Weapon used only in the New World.
288 Himyar II absent Confident Expert -
Weapon used only in the New World.
289 Yemen - Qasimid Dynasty absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
290 Qatabanian Commonwealth absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
291 Rasulid Dynasty absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
292 Yemen - Tahirid Dynasty absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
293 Yemen - Era of Warlords absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
294 Egypt - Dynasty 0 absent Inferred Expert -
"The principal weapons in the late Predynastic and Protodynastic Periods were undoubtedly the bow and arrow, spear, axe and mace. These are frequently shown in relief depictions of hunting and battle scenes (figure 18). Comparatively large numbers of maceheads have been excavated at late Predynastic and Protodynastic sites." [1]

[1]: (Shaw 1991: 31) Shaw, Ian. 1991. Egyptian Warfare and Weapons. Princes Risborough: Shire. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/7J8H86XF.


295 Egypt - Tulunid-Ikhshidid Period absent Inferred Expert -
New World weapon
296 British Empire I absent Confident Expert -
-
297 French Kingdom - Late Bourbon absent Confident Expert -
[1]

[1]: (Parrott 2012, 62) David Parrott. Armed Forces. William Doyle. ed. 2012. The Oxford Handbook of the Ancien Régime. Oxford University Press. Oxford.


298 Carolingian Empire II absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
299 Hallstatt C absent Confident Expert -
Not mentioned in the literature.
300 Proto-Carolingian absent Confident Expert -
Not discussed in consulted literature RA.
301 La Tene A-B1 absent Confident Expert -
Spears are described, but not spear-throwers.
302 La Tene C2-D absent Confident Expert -
Spears are described, but not spear-throwers.
303 Akan - Pre-Ashanti absent Inferred Expert -
no mention in sources; does not make sense for time period
304 Java - Buni Culture absent Confident Expert -
Not found outside of the New World.
305 Kingdom of Ayodhya absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
306 Oaxaca - Tierras Largas present Inferred Expert -
Present in the valley of Oaxaca since preceramic times (the Proto-Otomangueans) for hunting. [1] However, it does seem to be clear whether they were also used as weapons in warfare.

[1]: Flannery, K. V. and J. Marcus (1983). "The Cloud People." New York, p36


307 Monte Alban Late I present Confident Expert -
Present in the valley of Oaxaca since preceramic times (the Proto-Otomangueans) for hunting. [1] and, in previous periods, obsidian blades were found in Tomb 10 at San José Mogote which may have been hafted into atlatl darts. [2] In addition, glyphs depicting what may be atlatls or spearthrowers have been carved with the danzantes at San Jose Mogote. [3]

[1]: Flannery, K. V. and J. Marcus (1983). "The Cloud People." New York, p36

[2]: Marcus, J. and K. V. Flannery (1996). Zapotec civilization: How urban society evolved in Mexico’s Oaxaca Valley, Thames and Hudson London, p133

[3]: Marcus and Flannery (1996) Zapotec Civilization: How urban society evolved in Mexico’s Oaxaca Valley. p153


308 Monte Alban IIIB and IV present Confident Expert -
Present in the valley of Oaxaca since preceramic times (the Proto-Otomangueans) for hunting. [1] and, in previous periods, obsidian blades were found in Tomb 10 at San José Mogote which may have been hafted into atlatl darts. [2] In addition, glyphs depicting what may be atlatls or spearthrowers have been carved with the danzantes at San Jose Mogote. [3]

[1]: Flannery, K. V. and J. Marcus (1983). "The Cloud People." New York, p36

[2]: Marcus, J. and K. V. Flannery (1996). Zapotec civilization: How urban society evolved in Mexico’s Oaxaca Valley, Thames and Hudson London, p133

[3]: Marcus and Flannery (1996) Zapotec Civilization: How urban society evolved in Mexico’s Oaxaca Valley. p153


309 Inca Empire present Confident Expert -
[1]

[1]: (McEwan 2006)


310 Monte Alban II present Confident Expert -
Present in the valley of Oaxaca since preceramic times (the Proto-Otomangueans) for hunting. [1] and, in previous periods, obsidian blades were found in Tomb 10 at San José Mogote which may have been hafted into atlatl darts. [2] In addition, glyphs depicting what may be atlatls or spearthrowers have been carved with the danzantes at San Jose Mogote. [3]

[1]: Flannery, K. V. and J. Marcus (1983). "The Cloud People." New York, p36

[2]: Marcus, J. and K. V. Flannery (1996). Zapotec civilization: How urban society evolved in Mexico’s Oaxaca Valley, Thames and Hudson London, p133

[3]: Marcus and Flannery (1996) Zapotec Civilization: How urban society evolved in Mexico’s Oaxaca Valley. p153


311 Cahokia - Early Woodland present Confident Expert -
The atlatl was the main weapon of this region before the introduction of the bow c300-400 CE. [1] [2] However, the fact that there is very little skeletal evidence for warfare for this period [3] suggests that the atlatl was mostly used for hunting animals.

[1]: (Blitz and Porth 2013, 89-95)

[2]: (Iseminger 2010, 24) Iseminger, W R. 2010. Cahokia Mounds: America’s First City. The History Press. Charleston.

[3]: (Milner, Chaplin and Zavodny 2013, 96-97) Milner, George, George Chaplin, and Emily Zavodny. 2013. “Conflict and Societal Change in Late Prehistoric Eastern North America.” Evolutionary Anthropology 22: 96-102. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/collectionKey/PAF8KM8K/itemKey/QR77EGA6


312 Archaic Basin of Mexico present Confident Expert 4000 BCE 2001 BCE
"In Mesoamerica [...] tools that could double as weapons, including handheld spears and spearthrowers (atlatls) [...] have been found as early as 4000 BC". [1]

[1]: (Hassig 1992: 12-13) Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/E9VHCKDG.


313 Classic Basin of Mexico present Confident Expert -
"Part of Teotihuacan’s weaponry was inherited from earlier times, especially the thrusting spear. Spears remained dominant on the battlefield but were augmented by atlatls and darts, which became major weapons in the Early and Middle Classic." [1]

[1]: (Hassig 1992: 47) Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/E9VHCKDG.


314 Epiclassic Basin of Mexico present Confident Expert -
There was no significant change in arms—thrusting spears and atlatls continued to dominate. [1]

[1]: (Hassig 1992: 82) Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/E9VHCKDG.


315 Early Formative Basin of Mexico present Inferred Expert -
"In Mesoamerica [...] tools that could double as weapons, including handheld spears and spearthrowers (atlatls) [...] have been found as early as 4000 BC". [1] [2]

[1]: (Hassig 1992: 12-13) Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/E9VHCKDG.

[2]: Voorhies, Barbara (1996). Archaic Period in Mesoamerica." The Oxford Companion to Archaeology, ed. B. Fagan. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 442-444.


316 Cahokia - Middle Woodland present Confident Expert -
The atlatl was the main weapon of this region before the introduction of the bow c300-400 CE. [1] [2] However, the fact that there is very little skeletal evidence for warfare for this period [3] suggests that the atlatl was mostly used for hunting animals.

[1]: (Blitz and Porth 2013, 89-95)

[2]: (Iseminger 2010, 24) Iseminger, W R. 2010. Cahokia Mounds: America’s First City. The History Press. Charleston.

[3]: (Milner, Chaplin and Zavodny 2013, 96-97) Milner, George, George Chaplin, and Emily Zavodny. 2013. “Conflict and Societal Change in Late Prehistoric Eastern North America.” Evolutionary Anthropology 22: 96-102. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/collectionKey/PAF8KM8K/itemKey/QR77EGA6


317 Late Formative Basin of Mexico present Inferred Expert -
technology present in the wider region from c.4000 BCE, diverse array of projectile points in archaeological record, and there is evidence for their use in Formative Mesoamerican art. [1] [2] [3]

[1]: Hassig, Ross. (1992). "War and Society in Ancient Mesoamerica." Berkeley: University of California Press, p.13.

[2]: Voorhies, Barbara (1996). Archaic Period in Mesoamerica." The Oxford Companion to Archaeology, ed. B. Fagan. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 442-444.

[3]: Tolstoy, Paul (1971). "Utilitarian Artifacts of Central Mexico." In The Handbook of Middle American Indians, vol. 10, ed. G. F. Ekholm, and I. Bernal. Austin: University of Texas Press, 270-296.


318 Middle Formative Basin of Mexico present Inferred Expert -
"In Mesoamerica [...] tools that could double as weapons, including handheld spears and spearthrowers (atlatls) [...] have been found as early as 4000 BC". [1] [2]

[1]: (Hassig 1992: 12-13) Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/E9VHCKDG.

[2]: Voorhies, Barbara (1996). Archaic Period in Mesoamerica." The Oxford Companion to Archaeology, ed. B. Fagan. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 442-444.


319 Terminal Formative Basin of Mexico present Inferred Expert -
technology present in the wider region from c.4000 BCE, diverse array of projectile points in archaeological record, and there is evidence for their use in Formative Mesoamerican art. [1] [2] [3]

[1]: Hassig, Ross. (1992). "War and Society in Ancient Mesoamerica." Berkeley: University of California Press, p.13.

[2]: Voorhies, Barbara (1996). Archaic Period in Mesoamerica." The Oxford Companion to Archaeology, ed. B. Fagan. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 442-444.

[3]: Tolstoy, Paul (1971). "Utilitarian Artifacts of Central Mexico." In The Handbook of Middle American Indians, vol. 10, ed. G. F. Ekholm, and I. Bernal. Austin: University of Texas Press, 270-296.


320 Shuar - Colonial present Confident Expert 1534 CE 1675 CE
Spear-throwers were probably obsolete by the Ecuadorian period, but it seems clear that during the sixteenth century the Shuar used lances, spear throwers, and bows and arrows: ’Sometime during the latter part of the seventeenth century the bow and arrow and the spear thrower began to go out of use, being replaced by the blowgun with poison darts... The use of the spear thrower appears now to be entirely forgotten by the Jivaros.’ [1] ’The spear-thrower is made of a piece of wood about 69 cm. long, with a groove hollowed on its upper side to receive the handle of the javelin; the rear end of the latter butts against the edge of the spear-thrower. The spear-thrower has a hole on its lower surface at the junction of its posterior and middle thirds, where the Indian puts his index finger in order to throw the javelin, as the illustration shows. The complete apparatus measures about 1 meter long.’ [2] 1675 was selected as a provisional date of transition, although the historical process was more fluid than that.

[1]: Stirling, Matthew Williams. 1938. “Historical And Ethnographical Material On The Jivaro Indians.”, 79-86

[2]: Rivet, Paul. 1907. “Jivaro Indians: Geographic, Historical And Ethnographic Research.”


321 Shuar - Ecuadorian present Confident Expert -
[NB: Spear-throwers were likely obselete and out of use by the time period in question: It seems clear that during the sixteenth century the Shuar used lances, spear throwers, and bows and arrows. Sometime during the latter part of the seventeenth century the bow and arrow and the spear thrower began to go out of use, being replaced by the blowgun with poison darts... The use of the spear thrower appears now to be entirely forgotten by the Shuar. [1] ] The spear-thrower is made of a piece of wood about 69 cm. long, with a groove hollowed on its upper side to receive the handle of the javelin; the rear end of the latter butts against the edge of the spear-thrower. The spear-thrower has a hole on its lower surface at the junction of its posterior and middle thirds, where the Indian puts his index finger in order to throw the javelin, as the illustration shows. The complete apparatus measures about 1 meter long. [2]

[1]: Stirling, Matthew Williams. 1938. “Historical And Ethnographical Material On The Jivaro Indians.”, 79-86

[2]: Rivet, Paul. 1907. “Jivaro Indians: Geographic, Historical And Ethnographic Research.”


322 Initial Formative Basin of Mexico present Confident Expert -
Around 2000BC in the Valley of Mexico the inhabitants lived a simple peasant life hunting with small javelins known as atlatl. [1] "In Mesoamerica [...] tools that could double as weapons, including handheld spears and spearthrowers (atlatls) [...] have been found as early as 4000 BC". [2]

[1]: (Emmerich 1963: 20) Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/ZZ8EAUQ8.

[2]: (Hassig 1992: 12-13) Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/E9VHCKDG.


323 Monte Alban III present Confident Expert -
Present in the valley of Oaxaca since preceramic times (the Proto-Otomangueans) for hunting. [1] and, in previous periods, obsidian blades were found in Tomb 10 at San José Mogote which may have been hafted into atlatl darts. [2] In addition, glyphs depicting what may be atlatls or spearthrowers have been carved with the danzantes at San Jose Mogote. [3]

[1]: Flannery, K. V. and J. Marcus (1983). "The Cloud People." New York, p36

[2]: Marcus, J. and K. V. Flannery (1996). Zapotec civilization: How urban society evolved in Mexico’s Oaxaca Valley, Thames and Hudson London, p133

[3]: Marcus and Flannery (1996) Zapotec Civilization: How urban society evolved in Mexico’s Oaxaca Valley. p153


324 Middle Postclassic Basin of Mexico present Confident Expert -
"Most of the basic Mesoamerican armaments were in existence at this time [Classic period] - atlatls, darts, and spears, we well as clubs (bladed and unbladed), shields, cotton body armor, and unit standards [...] This military organization and technology was carried forward and elaborated on first by Toltecs and then by Aztecs". [1]

[1]: (Hassig 1992: 5) Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/E9VHCKDG.


325 Spanish Empire I present Confident Uncertain Expert -
Did Spanish soldiers ever use New World weapons? Used against the Spanish by Maya. [1] We need to know whether the Habsburgs used them.

[1]: (Pemberton 2011, preview) Pemberton, John. 2011. Conquistadors: Searching for El Dorado: The Terrifying Spanish Conquest of the Aztec and Inca Empires. Canary Press eBooks Limited. https://www.zotero.org/groups/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/3SI549GS


326 Oaxaca - Rosario present Confident Expert -
Present in the valley of Oaxaca since preceramic times (the Proto-Otomangueans) for hunting. [1] and obsidian blades were found in Tomb 10 at San José Mogote which may have been hafted into atlatl darts. [2] In addition, glyphs depicting what may be atlatls or spearthrowers have been carved with the danzantes at San Jose Mogote. [3]

[1]: Flannery, K. V. and J. Marcus (1983). "The Cloud People." New York, p36

[2]: Marcus, J. and K. V. Flannery (1996). Zapotec civilization: How urban society evolved in Mexico’s Oaxaca Valley, Thames and Hudson London, p133

[3]: Marcus and Flannery (1996) Zapotec Civilization: How urban society evolved in Mexico’s Oaxaca Valley. p153


327 Toltecs present Confident Expert -
Pyramid B had two rooms which were supported by four warriors carrying an atlatl and a bag of incense. [1] "Toltec arms included atlatls and darts, knives, and a curved club that I have labelled a short sword." [2]

[1]: (Coe 1994: 139) Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/5DJ2S5IF.

[2]: (Hassig 1992: 112) Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/E9VHCKDG.


328 Aztec Empire present Confident Expert -
Listed by Hassig. [1]

[1]: (Hassig 1992: 248) Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/E9VHCKDG.


329 Oaxaca - San Jose present Inferred Expert -
Present in the valley of Oaxaca since preceramic times (the Proto-Otomangueans) for hunting. [1] However, it does seem to be clear whether they were also used as weapons in warfare.

[1]: Flannery, K. V. and J. Marcus (1983). "The Cloud People." New York, p36


330 Wari Empire present Confident Expert -
If we use warrior figurines from Pikillacta as evidence, spear-throwers were depicted [1]

[1]: (Bergh in Bergh 2012, 237)


331 Early Monte Alban I present Confident Expert -
Present in the valley of Oaxaca since preceramic times (the Proto-Otomangueans) for hunting. [1] and, in previous periods, obsidian blades were found in Tomb 10 at San José Mogote which may have been hafted into atlatl darts. [2] In addition, glyphs depicting what may be atlatls or spearthrowers have been carved with the danzantes at San Jose Mogote. [3]

[1]: Flannery, K. V. and J. Marcus (1983). "The Cloud People." New York, p36

[2]: Marcus, J. and K. V. Flannery (1996). Zapotec civilization: How urban society evolved in Mexico’s Oaxaca Valley, Thames and Hudson London, p133

[3]: Marcus and Flannery (1996) Zapotec Civilization: How urban society evolved in Mexico’s Oaxaca Valley. p153


332 Monte Alban V present Confident Expert -
Weaponry for military at this time included wooden broadswords edged with obsidian blades, bows and arrows, slings, atlatls. [1]

[1]: Flannery and Marcus (1983) The Cloud People. New York. p217-8


333 Sarazm unknown Suspected Expert -
-
334 Hmong - Early Chinese unknown Suspected Expert -
we need expert input in order to code this variable
335 Jin Dynasty unknown Suspected Expert -
-
336 Exarchate of Ravenna unknown Confident Expert -
-
337 Cuzco - Early Intermediate I unknown Confident Expert -
[1]

[1]: (Brian Bauer 2015, personal communication)


338 Republic of St Peter I unknown Confident Expert -
-
339 Hmong - Late Qing unknown Suspected Expert -
we need expert input in order to code this variable
340 Phoenician Empire unknown Suspected Expert -
-
341 Chuuk - Early Truk unknown Suspected Expert -
Not mentioned in the literature.
342 Early Qing unknown Suspected Expert -
-
343 Late Qing unknown Suspected Expert -
-
344 Great Yuan unknown Suspected Expert -
-
345 Neguanje unknown Suspected Expert -
-
346 Tairona unknown Suspected Expert -
-
347 Chuuk - Late Truk unknown Suspected Expert -
Not mentioned in the literature.
348 Cuzco - Early Intermediate II unknown Confident Expert -
[1]

[1]: (Brian Bauer 2015, personal communication)


349 Hawaii II unknown Suspected Expert -
Presumably they didn’t have these as they do not appear later in Hawaiian prehistory.
350 Mali Empire unknown Suspected Expert -
-
351 Mongol Empire unknown Suspected Expert -
-
352 Chagatai Khanate unknown Suspected Expert -
-
353 Shiwei unknown Suspected Expert -
-
354 Second Turk Khaganate unknown Suspected Expert -
-
355 Uigur Khaganate unknown Suspected Expert -
-
356 Zungharian Empire unknown Suspected Expert -
-
357 Prepalatial Crete unknown Suspected Expert -
-
358 Later Wagadu Empire unknown Suspected Expert -
-
359 Middle Wagadu Empire unknown Suspected Expert -
-
360 Cuzco - Late Intermediate I unknown Suspected Expert -
-
361 Hawaii I unknown Suspected Expert -
Presumably they didn’t have these as they do not appear later in Hawaiian prehistory.
362 Cuzco - Late Intermediate II unknown Suspected Expert -
-
363 Cuzco - Late Formative unknown Suspected Expert -
-
364 Orokaiva - Pre-Colonial unknown Suspected Expert -
-
365 Orokaiva - Colonial unknown Suspected Expert -
-