Rebirth of the atlatl

Saratoga may be home to the rebirth of the atlatl and a world-wide competition.

What is an atlatl you ask?

An atlatl is a device used to throw a spear, commonly called a dart, much farther and more accurately than a human can unaided. An atlatl is usually constructed from a stick or slat with a hook on one end and a handle on the other.

If it were explained by your high school physics teacher, they would describe it as creating an extra lever on your arm, thus increasing the force you can throw an object with.

The word atlatl is Aztec in origin and was documented by the Spanish Conquistadores, who also had the atlatl used against them. It is pronounced "ah-tlatl" or "attle attle."

According to Rod Laird, former Saratoga Middle School teacher and amateur archaeologist, the atlatl "has been called 'the atomic bomb of the stone age' because of the impact it must have had on the hunting success of its users." In the early 1980s Laird was teaching his students how to make and use atlatl's and is credited with starting the World Atlatl Competition, which had both Kid's and Big (adults) divisions.

From the basis of Laird's competitions in Saratoga, a group of Coloradans formed the World Atlatl Association (WAA) in 1987 and in 2007, and Russell Richard formed the Wyoming Atlatl & Social Club (WASC).

Richard notes since Laird started the modern sporting use of atlatls, Wyoming has continually had contests since 1981.

The annual meeting of the WAA was held in Cheyenne from Aug. 7 to 10.

"Wyoming is unique for celebrating the use of the atlatl," said Richard, adding that "Wyoming is unique in the prehistory and history of the atlatl having the Colby Mammoth Site where Clovis people killed mammoths using atlatls and modern use beginning with (Laird)."

Richard was introduced to atlatls in 1994 while attending a University of Wyoming archaeological field school run by Dr. Charles Reher at the Pine Bluffs archaeological site. Reher was also holding an educational program for teachers from Nebraska in which atlatl use was demonstrated. The field school students, including Richard, made the atlatls for the program.

In 1996, Richard attended the World Atlatl open in Casper, and since then has been deeply involved in the sport.

Richard has competed in 16 states and seven countries, and has even constructed a fake woolly mammoth, named Little Eric, which he has taken to about 14 competitions, including one in Saratoga in 2011. Places where Richard has competed include: England, Italy, France, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Montana, Colorado, Oregon, New Mexico, West Virginia, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Missouri.

The Wyoming Atlatl & Social Club currently boasts over 80 members and the World Atlatl Association has members listed from 35 states and 13 countries.

In 2011, Laird published "The Atlatl Book," which he said was hard to get published because it was too specific for most publishers. He initially distributed that volume at the atlatl symposium put together by Richard and held in Saratoga. Only a few copies of the volume are still available for sale.

Laird said he was proud to see the number of people, creativity and skill of the attendees and competitor's at the WAA meeting in Cheyenne.

"Somebody said, 'See what you are responsible for doing?' and I said, 'I'll take credit for that if you want to give it to me because that is amazing what these people, from all across the country, are doing," Laird said of one of his experiences at the recent World Open in Cheyenne.