AUS Aboriginal hand axe

Billman · 20th October 2013, 09:27 PM

These throwing stones appear to have some of the aerodynamic properties of boomerangs, the hand (?) axe shown is assymetric, and would probably not have a stable flight geometry due to its Cof G being eccentric...

josh stout · 20th October 2013, 10:03 PM

Tim-

I have been searching for historic examples of throwing stones, and these are the first sharp ones I have seen listed as such. Can you please give me the reference? (Just saw that you listed the reference above. Is that the one?)

I am working on testing the aerodynamics of cement replicas weighted with lead to match the originals. So far, they throw very nicely. I can stick the Acheulean version into the ground like playing mumblety-peg with a knife.

josh stout · 20th October 2013, 10:53 PM

The best paper on ethnographic throwing.

http://courses.washington.edu/war101...isaac_1987.pdf

josh stout · 21st October 2013, 01:22 AM

The basic shape of hand axes is incredibly consistent for over 2 million years. It is the thing we have made the most of for the longest time. They were replaced by the rich array of weapons developed by modern humans, but seemingly persisted in some cultures into modern times. How can we not know what they are? They have to be the equivalent of the ubiquitous hunting knife, and they have some similarities. The thick edge is more like that of a hunting knife than a chef’s knife. Flakes would be much finer cutting tools; these were for butchery, and perhaps the occasional fight.

Personally though, once you have held one in your hand, it is difficult to escape the idea that they would be very effective when thrown. Given that making a sharp edge all the way around is more difficult that leaving one blunt for grasping, there must be a reason for it.

20th October 2013, 10:03 PM	#2
josh stout Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 407	Tim- I have been searching for historic examples of throwing stones, and these are the first sharp ones I have seen listed as such. Can you please give me the reference? (Just saw that you listed the reference above. Is that the one?) I am working on testing the aerodynamics of cement replicas weighted with lead to match the originals. So far, they throw very nicely. I can stick the Acheulean version into the ground like playing mumblety-peg with a knife. Last edited by josh stout; 21st October 2013 at 01:32 AM.

20th October 2013, 09:27 PM	#1
Billman Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 129	These throwing stones appear to have some of the aerodynamic properties of boomerangs, the hand (?) axe shown is assymetric, and would probably not have a stable flight geometry due to its Cof G being eccentric...

20th October 2013, 10:53 PM	#3
josh stout Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 407	The best paper on ethnographic throwing. http://courses.washington.edu/war101...isaac_1987.pdf

21st October 2013, 01:22 AM	#4
josh stout Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 407	The basic shape of hand axes is incredibly consistent for over 2 million years. It is the thing we have made the most of for the longest time. They were replaced by the rich array of weapons developed by modern humans, but seemingly persisted in some cultures into modern times. How can we not know what they are? They have to be the equivalent of the ubiquitous hunting knife, and they have some similarities. The thick edge is more like that of a hunting knife than a chef’s knife. Flakes would be much finer cutting tools; these were for butchery, and perhaps the occasional fight. Personally though, once you have held one in your hand, it is difficult to escape the idea that they would be very effective when thrown. Given that making a sharp edge all the way around is more difficult that leaving one blunt for grasping, there must be a reason for it.