Decolonizing the Spear-Thrower: New Perspectives on Propulsor Projectile Technologies from the Northwest Coast of North America

Abstract Historically, much of the archaeological research on spear-throwers has been in the context of comparison with bow and arrow technologies, revealing a colonialist preoccupation with technologies more familiar to Europeans while exoticizing other projectile delivery systems. The commonly used term “atl-atl” from Nahuatl is culturally specific, which at best obscures the existence of multiple regional traditions and independent innovation and development and at worst perpetuates antiquarian exoticism. Other archaeological research, especially experimental work, has focused on understanding the mechanics and physics of using spear-throwers. Although much of this research has had the explicit goal of understanding the functional trade-offs between spear-throwers and bows—and is therefore affected by the implicit colonialist bias—the research also has contributed to a better understanding of spear-thrower design and effectiveness and, most recently, has contributed to reevaluating gender relationships with these technologies. We propose (1) engagement of descendant communities on projectile terminology and (2) a schema that situates propulsor projectiles in the wider context of projectile delivery systems. These steps focus on propulsor technologies as an important dynamic system deserving of its own story in terms of how it was developed, introduced, and refined in local contexts.