Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-27217546-20170617223722/@comment-24652012-20170617230020

Paleontologists believe that the atlatl was the ancestor of the bow, but if that was true all cultures that have a bow would also have a atlatl. Javelins have a huge advantage over the bow as they can be thrown from behind a shield. But a atlatl can also be used from behind a shield, and with it their would be no need to throw a javelin with your bare hands. The golden age of whaling would have Alaskan native harpoon throwing atlatls. And if you get into close quarters all you would have to do is drop the atlatl and use the javelin as a melee spear.