Woomera: The Killer App

Some 20,000 years ago, an upgrade of the spear revolutionised hunting. With a thrower (called a Woomera by the Eora people of Sydney), the spear flew further, and harder.

1The hunter uses the thrower as an extension of his arm, meaning that the spear can be thrown with extra strength to provide an extra reach.

2Letting go of the spear, the hunter holds on to the thrower, which is attached to his wrist by means of a leather strap.

3At a speed of some 150 km/h, the spear can be thrown across a distance of 200+ m, and the stone spearhead hits accurately from a distance of 40+ m.