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 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.


2 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.


3 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.”


4 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.”


5 Ottoman Emirate absent Confident Expert -
-
6 Ottoman Empire II absent Confident Expert -
-
7 Late Shang absent Confident Expert -
Technology used in the new world. Unlikely.
8 British Empire IIIIIIIIII absent Confident Expert -
-
9 Early Qing unknown Suspected Expert -
-
10 Late Qing unknown Suspected Expert -
-
11 Great Yuan unknown Suspected Expert -
-
12 Neguanje unknown Suspected Expert -
-
13 Tairona unknown Suspected Expert -
-
14 Ayyubid Sultanate absent Confident Expert -
-
15 Ptolemaic Kingdom I absent Confident Expert -
-
16 Ptolemaic Kingdom II absent Confident Expert -
-
17 Egypt - Period of the Regions absent Confident Expert -
-
18 Archaic Crete absent Confident Expert -
-
19 Classical Crete absent Confident Expert -
-
20 The Emirate of Crete absent Confident Expert -
-
21 Final Postpalatial Crete absent Confident Expert -
-
22 Geometric Crete absent Confident Expert -
-
23 Hellenistic Crete absent Confident Expert -
-
24 Monopalatial Crete absent Confident Expert -
-
25 Neolithic Crete absent Confident Expert -
-
26 Postpalatial Crete absent Confident Expert -
-
27 Prepalatial Crete unknown Suspected Expert -
-
28 Hawaii III absent Confident Expert -
-
29 Kalingga Kingdom absent Confident Expert -
-
30 Kediri Kingdom absent Confident Expert -
-
31 Medang Kingdom absent Confident Expert -
-
32 Greco-Bactrian Kingdom absent Confident Expert -
Weapon of the Americas, extremely unlikely to be present here
33 Kidarite Kingdom absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
34 Tang Dynasty II absent Confident Expert -
New world weapon.
35 Tocharians absent Confident Expert -
Weapon of the Americas, extremely unlikely to have been in use here
36 Eastern Han Empire absent Inferred Expert -
New world weapon, unlikely.
37 Erligang absent Inferred Expert -
Technology used in the new world. Unlikely.
38 Hmong - Early Chinese unknown Suspected Expert -
we need expert input in order to code this variable
39 Hmong - Late Qing unknown Suspected Expert -
we need expert input in order to code this variable
40 Longshan absent Inferred Expert -
Technology used in the new world. Unlikely.
41 Great Ming absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon
42 Northern Wei absent Inferred Expert -
New World weapon, unlikely.
43 Peiligang absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
44 Sui Dynasty absent Inferred Expert -
New World weapon.
45 Tang Dynasty I absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
46 Early Wei Dynasty absent Inferred Expert -
New World weapon.
47 Western Han Empire absent Confident Expert -
New world weapon
48 Western Zhou absent Confident Expert -
Unlikely, New World weapon.
49 Badarian absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
50 Egypt - Dynasty I absent Confident Expert -
new world weapon
51 Egypt - Dynasty II absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
52 Egypt - Inter-Occupation Period absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon
53 Egypt - Mamluk Sultanate I absent Confident Expert -
new world weapon
54 Egypt - Mamluk Sultanate III absent Confident Expert -
new world weapon
55 Egypt - Mamluk Sultanate II absent Confident Expert -
new world weapon
56 Egypt - Middle Kingdom absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon
57 Naqada I absent Confident Expert -
new world weapon
58 Naqada II absent Confident Expert -
New world weapon.
59 Egypt - New Kingdom Ramesside Period absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
60 Egypt - New Kingdom Thutmosid Period absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon
61 Egypt - Classic Old Kingdom absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
62 Egypt - Late Old Kingdom absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
63 Egypt - Saite Period absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon
64 Egypt - Thebes-Hyksos Period absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon
65 Egypt - Thebes-Libyan Period absent Confident Expert -
New world weapon
66 Chuuk - Early Truk unknown Suspected Expert -
Not mentioned in the literature.
67 Chuuk - Late Truk unknown Suspected Expert -
Not mentioned in the literature.
68 Atlantic Complex absent Confident Expert -
Not mentioned in the literature.
69 Beaker Culture absent Inferred Expert -
Not mentioned in the literature.
70 French Kingdom - Early Bourbon absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
71 Proto-French Kingdom absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
72 French Kingdom - Late Capetian absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
73 Carolingian Empire I absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
74 Hallstatt A-B1 absent Confident Expert -
Not mentioned in the literature.
75 Hallstatt B2-3 absent Confident Expert -
Not mentioned in the literature.
76 Hallstatt D absent Confident Expert -
Not mentioned in the literature.
77 Early Merovingian absent Confident Expert -
Not discussed in consulted literature RA.
78 Middle Merovingian absent Confident Expert -
Not discussed in consulted literature RA.
79 La Tene B2-C1 absent Confident Expert -
Spears are described, but not spear-throwers.
80 French Kingdom - Early Valois absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
81 French Kingdom - Late Valois absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
82 Ashanti Empire absent Inferred Expert -
Weapon of the Americas.
83 Hawaii I unknown Suspected Expert -
Presumably they didn’t have these as they do not appear later in Hawaiian prehistory.
84 Iban - Pre-Brooke absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
85 Iban - Brooke Raj and Colonial absent Confident Expert -
New world weapon.
86 Majapahit Kingdom absent Confident Expert -
New World Weapon.
87 Mataram Sultanate absent Confident Expert -
New World Weapon.
88 Yehuda absent Confident Expert -
-
89 Yisrael absent Confident Expert -
-
90 Late A'chik absent Confident Expert -
-
91 Vijayanagara Empire absent Confident Expert -
-
92 Abbasid Caliphate II absent Confident Expert -
-
93 Latium - Bronze Age absent Confident Expert -
-
94 Latium - Copper Age absent Confident Expert -
-
95 Latium - Iron Age absent Confident Expert -
-
96 Ostrogothic Kingdom absent Confident Expert -
-
97 Rome - Republic of St Peter II absent Confident Expert -
-
98 Papal States - High Medieval Period absent Confident Expert -
-
99 Papal States - Early Modern Period I absent Confident Expert -
-
100 Papal States - Early Modern Period II absent Confident Expert -
-
101 Papal States - Renaissance Period absent Confident Expert -
-
102 Exarchate of Ravenna unknown Confident Expert -
-
103 Early Roman Republic absent Confident Expert -
-
104 Late Roman Republic absent Confident Expert -
-
105 Middle Roman Republic absent Confident Expert -
-
106 Roman Empire - Principate absent Confident Expert -
-
107 Western Roman Empire - Late Antiquity absent Confident Expert -
-
108 Republic of St Peter I unknown Confident Expert -
-
109 Chalukyas of Kalyani absent Confident Expert -
Weapon found only in the New World.
110 Deccan - Iron Age absent Confident Expert -
Weapon that has only been found in the New World.
111 Deccan - Neolithic absent Confident Expert -
Weapon that has only been found in the New World.
112 Chalcolithic Middle Ganga absent Inferred Expert -
New World weapon.
113 Neolithic Middle Ganga absent Inferred Expert -
New World Weapon.
114 Early A'chik absent Confident Expert -
new world weapon
115 Gupta Empire absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
116 Gurjar-Pratihara Dynasty absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
117 Kadamba Empire absent Confident Expert -
Weapon found only in the New World.
118 Kampili Kingdom absent Confident Expert -
A weapon used only in the New World.
119 Magadha absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
120 Mahajanapada era absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
121 Mughal Empire absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
122 Rashtrakuta Empire absent Confident Expert -
Weapon found only in the New World.
123 Magadha - Sunga Empire absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
124 Vakataka Kingdom absent Confident Expert -
Weapon found only in the New World.
125 Abbasid Caliphate I absent Inferred Expert -
New World weapon
126 Early Dynastic absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
127 Neo-Assyrian Empire absent Confident Expert -
Weapon of the Americas.
128 Southern Mesopotamia Neolithic absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
129 Ubaid absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
130 Ur - Dynasty III absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
131 Achaemenid Empire absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
132 Ak Koyunlu absent Confident Expert -
New World weapons.
133 Elam - Awan Dynasty I absent Confident Expert -
Not mentioned in evidence and extremely unlikely being a weapon of the Americas
134 Elam - Crisis Period absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
135 Elymais II absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
136 Ilkhanate absent Confident Expert -
new world weapon
137 Susiana A absent Confident Expert -
Not mentioned in evidence and extremely unlikely being a weapon of the Americas
138 Susiana - Early Ubaid absent Confident Expert -
Not mentioned in evidence and extremely unlikely being a weapon of the Americas
139 Elam - Kidinuid Period absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
140 Elam - Igihalkid Period absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
141 Elam I absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
142 Elam II absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
143 Parthian Empire I absent Confident Expert -
new world weapon
144 Parthian Empire II absent Confident Expert -
Weapon of the Americas
145 Qajar absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
146 Safavid Empire absent Confident Expert -
Weapon of the Americas
147 Sasanid Empire I absent Confident Expert -
new world weapon
148 Sasanid Empire II absent Confident Expert -
new world weapon
149 Seljuk Sultanate absent Confident Expert -
Weapon of the Americas.
150 Elam - Shimashki Period absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
151 Elam - Early Sukkalmah absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
152 Susa II absent Confident Expert -
Not mentioned in evidence and extremely unlikely being a weapon of the Americas
153 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)


154 Asuka absent Inferred Expert -
Weapon of the Americas, no evidence of use
155 Japan - Azuchi-Momoyama absent Inferred Expert -
Could not find any evidence of use
156 Heian absent Inferred Expert -
Could not find any evidence of use
157 Japan - Early Jomon absent Confident Expert -
No archaeological evidence for this. Moreover, the scholarly consensus is that the Jomon were relatively peaceful.
158 Japan - Final Jomon absent Confident Expert -
No archaeological evidence for this. Moreover, the scholarly consensus is that the Jomon were relatively peaceful.
159 Kamakura Shogunate absent Inferred Expert -
Could not find any evidence of use
160 Nara Kingdom absent Inferred Expert -
Could not find any evidence of use
161 Tokugawa Shogunate absent Inferred Expert -
Could not find any evidence of use
162 Jenne-jeno I absent Inferred Expert -
-
163 Jenne-jeno II absent Confident Expert -
-
164 Jenne-jeno III absent Inferred Expert -
-
165 Jenne-jeno IV absent Confident Expert -
-
166 Mali Empire unknown Suspected Expert -
-
167 Mongol Empire unknown Suspected Expert -
-
168 Early Mongols absent Confident Expert -
-
169 Shiwei unknown Suspected Expert -
-
170 Second Turk Khaganate unknown Suspected Expert -
-
171 Uigur Khaganate unknown Suspected Expert -
-
172 Zungharian Empire unknown Suspected Expert -
-
173 Later Wagadu Empire unknown Suspected Expert -
-
174 Middle Wagadu Empire unknown Suspected Expert -
-
175 Cuzco - Late Intermediate I unknown Suspected Expert -
-
176 Cuzco - Late Intermediate II unknown Suspected Expert -
-
177 Cuzco - Late Formative unknown Suspected Expert -
-
178 Orokaiva - Pre-Colonial unknown Suspected Expert -
-
179 Orokaiva - Colonial unknown Suspected Expert -
-
180 Sarazm unknown Suspected Expert -
-
181 Byzantine Empire II absent Confident Expert -
-
182 Byzantine Empire III absent Confident Expert -
-
183 East Roman Empire absent Confident Expert -
-
184 Yangshao absent Inferred Expert -
Technology used in the new world. Unlikely.
185 Western Turk Khaganate absent Confident Expert -
Weapon of the Americas, extremely unlikely to be in use here
186 Classical Angkor absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon
187 Late Angkor absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon
188 Khmer Kingdom absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon
189 Chenla absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
190 Funan II absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
191 Bronze Age Cambodia absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
192 Andronovo absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
193 Saadi Sultanate absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
194 Bamana kingdom absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
195 Songhai Empire - Askiya Dynasty absent Inferred Expert -
new world weapon
196 Khitan I absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
197 Late Mongols absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
198 Rouran Khaganate absent Confident Expert -
Weapon of the Americas, extremely unlikely to be present here
199 Early Xiongnu absent Confident Expert -
A new world weapon, highly unlikely to have been used here.
200 Xiongnu Imperial Confederation absent Confident Expert -
A new world weapon, highly unlikely to have been used here
201 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


202 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.


203 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


204 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


205 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.
206 Cuzco - Early Intermediate II unknown Confident Expert -
[1]

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


207 Inca Empire present Confident Expert -
[1]

[1]: (McEwan 2006)


208 Indo-Greek Kingdom absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
209 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.


210 Kachi Plain - Pre-Urban Period absent Confident Expert -
New world weapon.
211 Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
212 Sind - Samma Dynasty absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
213 Kachi Plain - Urban Period I absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
214 Sakha - Early absent Confident Expert -
not mentioned in any of the sources that deal with weapons and armor
215 Egypt - Kushite Period absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon
216 Umayyad Caliphate absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon
217 Ayutthaya absent Confident Expert -
New world weapon
218 Rattanakosin absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon
219 Konya Plain - Early Bronze Age absent Confident Expert -
weapon of the Americas
220 Konya Plain - Late Bronze Age II absent Confident Expert -
weapon of the Americas
221 Byzantine Empire I absent Confident Expert -
Generally not found in this region - weapon of the Americas.
222 Late Cappadocia absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon
223 Konya Plain - Late Chalcolithic absent Confident Expert -
weapon of the Americas
224 Hatti - New Kingdom absent Confident Expert -
weapon of the Americas
225 Kingdom of Lydia absent Confident Expert -
weapon of the Americas
226 Lysimachus Kingdom absent Inferred Expert -
New World weapon
227 Konya Plain - Ceramic Neolithic absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon
228 Konya Plain - Early Neolithic absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon
229 Neo-Hittite Kingdoms absent Confident Expert -
weapon of the Americas
230 Ottoman Empire III absent Confident Expert -
-
231 Cahokia - Lohman-Stirling absent Confident Expert -
-
232 Cahokia - Moorehead absent Confident Expert -
-
233 Kingdom of Hawaii - Kamehameha Period absent Confident Expert -
-
234 Cahokia - Emergent Mississippian II absent Confident Expert -
-
235 Cahokia - Sand Prairie absent Confident Expert -
-
236 Chagatai Khanate unknown Suspected Expert -
-
237 Koktepe I absent Confident Expert -
-
238 Sabaean Commonwealth absent Confident Expert -
-
239 Durrani Empire absent Inferred Expert -
new world weapon
240 Ghur Principality absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
241 Hephthalites absent Confident Expert -
Weapon of the Americas, extremely unlikely to have been present here
242 Kushan Empire absent Confident Expert -
Weapon of the Americas and extremely unlikely to have been present here
243 Western Jin absent Inferred Expert -
New World weapon, unlikely.
244 Erlitou absent Confident Expert -
Technology used in the new world. Unlikely.
245 Jin absent Inferred Expert -
Unlikely, New World weapon.
246 Northern Song absent Inferred Expert -
Unlikely, New World weapon.
247 Japan - Initial Jomon absent Confident Expert -
No archaeological evidence for this. Moreover, the scholarly consensus is that the Jomon were relatively peaceful.
248 Japan - Middle Jomon absent Confident Expert -
No archaeological evidence for this. Moreover, the scholarly consensus is that the Jomon were relatively peaceful.
249 Japan - Late Jomon absent Confident Expert -
No archaeological evidence for this. Moreover, the scholarly consensus is that the Jomon were relatively peaceful.
250 Kansai - Kofun Period absent Inferred Expert -
Weapon of the Americas, no evidence of use
251 Warring States Japan absent Inferred Expert -
Could not find any evidence of use
252 Kansai - Yayoi Period absent Inferred Expert -
Weapon of the Americas, no evidence of use
253 Roman Empire - Dominate absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon
254 Rum Sultanate absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
255 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.
256 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)


257 Cahokia - Emergent Mississippian I absent Confident Expert -
Checked by Peter Peregrine.
258 Khanate of Bukhara absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
259 Ancient Khwarazm absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
260 Koktepe II absent Confident Expert -
Weapon of the Americas, extremely unlikely to be in use here
261 Sogdiana - City-States Period absent Confident Expert -
Weapon of the Americas, extremely unlikely to be in use here.
262 Himyar I absent Confident Expert -
Weapon used only in the New World.
263 Himyar II absent Confident Expert -
Weapon used only in the New World.
264 Yemen - Qasimid Dynasty absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
265 Qatabanian Commonwealth absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
266 Rasulid Dynasty absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
267 Yemen - Tahirid Dynasty absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
268 Yemen - Era of Warlords absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
269 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.”


270 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.


271 Egypt - Tulunid-Ikhshidid Period absent Inferred Expert -
New World weapon
272 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


273 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


274 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.


275 Carolingian Empire II absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
276 Hallstatt C absent Confident Expert -
Not mentioned in the literature.
277 Proto-Carolingian absent Confident Expert -
Not discussed in consulted literature RA.
278 La Tene A-B1 absent Confident Expert -
Spears are described, but not spear-throwers.
279 La Tene C2-D absent Confident Expert -
Spears are described, but not spear-throwers.
280 Akan - Pre-Ashanti absent Inferred Expert -
no mention in sources; does not make sense for time period
281 Hawaii II unknown Suspected Expert -
Presumably they didn’t have these as they do not appear later in Hawaiian prehistory.
282 Java - Buni Culture absent Confident Expert -
Not found outside of the New World.
283 Kingdom of Ayodhya absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
284 Chalukyas of Badami absent Confident Expert -
Weapon found only in the New World.
285 Post-Mauryan Kingdoms absent Confident Expert -
Weapon that has only been found in the New World.
286 Delhi Sultanate absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
287 Gahadavala Dynasty absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
288 Hoysala Kingdom absent Confident Expert -
Weapon used only in the New World.
289 Kannauj - Varman Dynasty absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
290 Magadha - Maurya Empire absent Confident Expert -
Known as a New World weapon.
291 Satavahana Empire absent Confident Expert -
Weapon that has only been found in the New World.
292 Akkadian Empire absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
293 Neo-Babylonian Empire absent Inferred Expert -
Absent in previous and subsequent polities
294 Uruk absent Inferred Expert -
Weapon of the Americas
295 Susiana - Muhammad Jaffar absent Confident Expert -
Not mentioned in evidence and extremely unlikely being a weapon of the Americas
296 Buyid Confederation absent Confident Expert -
Weapon of the Americas.
297 Formative Period absent Confident Expert -
Not mentioned in evidence and extremely unlikely being a weapon of the Americas
298 Susiana B absent Confident Expert -
Not mentioned in evidence and extremely unlikely being a weapon of the Americas
299 Susiana - Late Ubaid absent Confident Expert -
Not mentioned in evidence and extremely unlikely being a weapon of the Americas
300 Elam - Shutrukid Period absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
301 Elam III absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
302 Pre-Ceramic Period absent Confident Expert -
Not mentioned in evidence and extremely unlikely being a weapon of the Americas
303 Seleucids absent Confident Expert -
Weapon of the Americas.
304 Elam - Late Sukkalmah absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
305 Susa I absent Confident Expert -
Not mentioned in evidence and extremely unlikely being a weapon of the Americas
306 Susa III absent Confident Expert -
Not mentioned in evidence and extremely unlikely being a weapon of the Americas
307 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.
308 Ashikaga Shogunate absent Confident Expert -
Could not find any evidence of use. Weapon of the Americas, extremely unlikely to be in use here
309 Japan - Incipient Jomon absent Confident Expert -
No archaeological evidence for this. Moreover, the scholarly consensus is that the Jomon were relatively peaceful.
310 Kara-Khanids absent Confident Expert -
Weapon of the Americas, extremely unlikely to be present here
311 Early Angkor absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon
312 Funan I absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
313 Bronze Age Cambodia absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
314 Segou Kingdom absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
315 Eastern Turk Khaganate absent Confident Expert -
Weapon of the Americas, highly unlikely to be present here
316 Xianbei Confederation absent Confident Expert -
Weapon of the Americas, extremely unlikely to be here
317 Late Xiongnu absent Confident Expert -
A new world weapon, highly unlikely to have been used here
318 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


319 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


320 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


321 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


322 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


323 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.


324 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.


325 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.


326 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


327 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.


328 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.


329 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.


330 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.


331 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.


332 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


333 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.


334 Cuzco - Early Intermediate I unknown Confident Expert -
[1]

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


335 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)


336 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


337 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


338 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


339 Sind - Abbasid-Fatimid Period absent Inferred Expert -
new world weapon
340 Kachi Plain - Urban Period II absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
341 Sakha - Late absent Confident Expert -
not mentioned in any of the sources that deal with weapons and armor
342 Fatimid Caliphate absent Confident Expert -
new world weapon
343 Middle Bronze Age in Central Anatolia absent Confident Expert -
weapon of the Americas
344 Konya Plain - Early Chalcolithic absent Confident Expert -
New world weapon.
345 Hatti - Old Kingdom absent Confident Expert -
weapon from Americas
346 Konya Plain - Late Neolithic absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon
347 Ottoman Empire I absent Confident Expert -
weapon of Americas
348 Phrygian Kingdom absent Confident Expert -
weapon of the Americas
349 Tabal Kingdoms absent Confident Expert -
Not mentioned in literature and extremely unlikely to be present, being a weapon of the Americas
350 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.
351 Proto-Haudenosaunee Confederacy absent Inferred Expert -
Many sources mention thrown and ranged projectile weapons, but no mention of the atlatl.
352 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


353 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)


354 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


355 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)


356 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


357 Samanid Empire absent Confident Expert -
Weapon of the Americas, extremely unlikely to be used here
358 Timurid Empire absent Confident Expert -
Weapon of the Americas, extremely unlikely to be in use here
359 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.


360 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.


361 British Empire I absent Confident Expert -
-
362 Yemen Ziyad Dynasty absent Confident Expert -
New World weapon.
363 Jin Dynasty unknown Suspected Expert -
-
364 Canaan absent Confident Expert -
-
365 Phoenician Empire unknown Suspected Expert -
-