The anthropologists name for the "throwing stick" is "Atlatl" which I think is a Nauhuatl (aztec) word. They have been used by cultures all over the world from Australia to Asia to the americas.
Jim Goff
----- Original Message -----
From: curtis osterhoudt
To: Forum for Physics Educators
Sent: Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:00:18 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Re: [Phys-l] Energy Transfer with hammers
For some reason, I am reminded of that great pre-agricultural invention,
the throwing stick (though I am fairly sure it has some more definitive
name). This was the device that amplified the utility of the spear, so
that the spear flew further, faster and higher. A matter of aggregating
the force available at the hand and
its launching speed capability over a longer arc and a higher launch
speed with the available manpower.