MY ATLATL

THIS IS MY CURRENT FAVORITE AT-LATL. IT IS BASICALLY A BASKETMAKER
STYLE AT-LATL WITH SOME SLIGHT MODIFICATIONS. THE SPUR IS OF ANTLER
INSTEAD OF WOOD AND IS ATTACHED THROUGH A HOLE ABOUT 1 1/2 INCHES
FROM THE END. A SMALL STEATITE WEIGHT IS TIED ON ABOUT FOUR INCHES
FROM THE FINGER LOOPS WHICH ARE MADE OF BRAIN-TAN. THE ENTIRE AT-LATL
WAS MADE IN ABOUT 3 HOURS WITH FLINT TOOLS. THE MAIN BODY WAS SPLIT
FROM A SMALL CEDAR TREE. THE FINGER SLOTS AND ENDS WERE RASPED OUT
WITH A BIFACE AND SMOOTHED WITH SANDSTONE.

THE WEIGHT IS LOAF SHAPED AND GROOVED
WITH A FLAT BOTTOM. IT IS ATTACHED WITH 5
STRANDS OF LOIN SINEW THAT WERE DIPPED
IN HIDE GLUE. I AM NOT SURE HOW MUCH IT
WEIGHS, I'VE NEVER WEIGHED IT. THE BACK
OF THE AT-LATL HAS BEEN FLATTENED TO
MATCH THE BOTTOM OF THE WEIGHT FOR A
TIGHT FIT.

THE SPUR IS VERY SIMPLE, BUT EXTREMELY STRONG.

I USED A STONE DRILL TO DRILL A HOLE COMPLETELY
THROUGH THE BODY. BECAUSE OF THE CONICAL HOLE
LEFT BY THE STONE DRILL'S SHAPE, IT FITS THE SMALL
TINE OF ANTLER PERFECTLY. THE OPPOSITE END WAS
THEN GROUND TO A BALL SHAPED HOOK.

MY HANDLE IS BASICALLY TWO GROOVES CARVED OUT
ON EACH SIDE OF THE BODY ABOUT 4-5 INCHES FROM
THE BOTTOM. A PIECE OF BUCKSKIN WAS THEN
FOLDED IN THIRDS AND A SLIT LARGE ENOUGH TO
ACCEPT THE BODY IS CUT THROUGH ALL THREE
LAYERS. THE LOOPS WERE THEN SECURED WITH
SINEW ON TOP AND BOTTOM.