The Use of Wooden Clubs and Throwing Sticks among Recent Foragers

Human Nature • Vol/Iss. 34 • Springer • • Published In • Pages: 122-152 •
By Hrnčíř, Václav

Abstract

The idea that archaic humans used wooden clubs as weapons is popular but not based on much archaeological evidence, due to the poor preservation of organic materials in the archaeological record. A new study analyzed 57 recent hunting-gathering societies and found that the majority used clubs for violence and/or hunting. The use of throwing sticks was less frequent. The study suggests that the use of clubs by early humans was highly probable, but that prehistoric weapons may have been quite sophisticated and carried strong symbolic meaning. The great variation in the forms and use of clubs and throwing sticks among recent hunter-gatherers suggests that similar variation may have existed in the past.
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: jacob.kalodner