Ancient spear-throwing tool brings fun and history to Vermont competition
September 20, 2025
A few dozen enthusiasts of ancient hunting tools participated in the Northeast Open Atlatl Championship in Addison, Vermont. The competition took place on Saturday. Humans invented the atlatl thousands of years ago for use as a spear-throwing hunting tool. They were used to hunt massive animals such as woolly mammoths in the days long before recorded history. Now, they are the passion of a group of hobbyists and anthropology lovers who see the atlatl as a way to learn about history and have fun.