The Javelin is a primitive weapon that predates the Atlatl spear thrower. But while Atlatl darts disappeared from Eurasia thousands of years ago, the Javelin, also known as war darts, remained in widespread use up until the 19th century.
Today, I want to share some observations as to why this is the case.
First let's talk about Construction
The javelin shaft needs to be relatively straight, around 5 feet in length, and be at least an inch and a half diameter at the thicker end. The thickness makes javelin shafts very stiff, it also makes it easy to find suitable shafts in wooded areas. Once harvested, the greenwood shaft needs to be debarked, and the thicker end needs to be carved into a point. Next, I get a fire going, and I use the fire to straighten the shaft, once. Then we fire-harden the tip of the javelin. Now to find the optimal balance point, first measure the midpoint of the shaft, and then measure the first one third point from the tip. Now mark the exact midpoint between these 2 points, this is the optimal balance point for the missle. Start removing wood behind this marked point until the shaft balances exactly on the marked point. Finally to add the range extending amentum, tie a length of cordage into a loop with a square knot, then attach it to the shaft using a prussic loop. Then adjust the prussic loop until the edge of the loop on your index finger is just behind the balance point. The finished amentum javelin took 30 minutes to construct. Javelins are far easier to craft than Atlatl darts, I can make half a dozen Javelins in the time it takes to make a single serviceable Atlatl dart.
Now let's talk about maintainability. When being stored, the stiff spine of the javelin is far less affected by environmental conditions than Atlatl darts. Changes in moisture and humidity can physically warp Atlatl darts. Prolonged exposure could also change the intrinsic flexibility of each Atlatl dart, thus greatly reducing accuracy. Javelins, due to it's stiff spine warps very little in storage. When actively practicing with Javelins, I noticed that the shaft is extremely durable even when it accidentally hits hard objects such as rocks or tree stumps. Hundreds of casts both by hand and by Amentum did not weaken my javelins. I have so far not damaged a single Javelin shaft after 2 months of practice. With Atlatl darts I noticed 3 different stress points, namely the spur, the spine that stores the energy with each cast, and the tip insertion hole. Each of these stress points have resulted in Atlatl shafts being damaged or even destroyed over 3 months of practice.
Now in terms of ballistic performance, the Atlatl dart has significant advantages over the Javelin. When throwing a Javelin with the amentum, I'm getting maximum distances of 35 to 40 yards. This is just over half the distance achieved with my Atlatl darts. In terms of accuracy there is really no comparison. At 30 feet, Atlatl darts were getting consistent hits on small coffee can sized targets, while the javelin gets, at best, consistent hits on torso sized targets. The Atlatl dart also flies noticeably faster and flatter then the Javelin, giving the target less time to react.
Now let's talk about usability, in my opinion, the Javelin is inherently more versatile than the Atlatl dart. For long range shots, you can use the amentum loop to extend your throwing arm in the same way as the Atlatl thrower. But let's suppose you are well within 30 feet of a target and there is no time to use a range extender, you can throw the Javelin effectively by hand but you can't do that with Atlatl darts. Now let's suppose a threatening target is at point blank range, the stiff spine of the javelin allows it to be used as a short stabbing spear, the flexible Atlatl dart would snap if used in this way.
Another fundamental advantage of the javelin is that it can be loaded and thrown with just one hand. This leaves the other hand free to do something else. Usually that was to hold a shield or the reins of a horse. Once the Javelin's are expended, the throwing hand can immediately pick up another weapon like a club or dagger. This flexibility gives the user huge advantages in hunting and warfare.
While the Javelin cannot match the speed, range, and precision of the Atlatl, I believe that under most circumstances, these disadvantages simply did not matter. While the Javelin is likely not a good choice for a solitary hunter trying to take down a Mastadon, it is more than good enough for the communal hunting of pigs, bears, and stag, it is more than good enough to be a mass produced and entirely expendable missile weapon for primitive warfare.
In this context, the Javelin's advantages of lower production cost, simpler maintenance, and greater usability makes it an overall better weapon system than the Atlatl. This is, in my opinion, why pretty much all of Eurasia phased out the Atlatl but kept the Javelin.
12 авг 2022
