Primitive passion

Jerry Nevins demonstrates a throwing stance using an atlatl.
Jerry Nevins demonstrates a throwing stance using an atlatl.

The 7-foot-long shaft is made of Missouri-native river cane he cut and straightened; the bannerstone weight he handcarved himself. Throwing the primitive dart from his self-carved atlatl, Jerry Nevins gains great satisfaction from using the tools he has made.

Since growing up in the remote Mid-Missouri woods, Nevins has been fond both of the outdoors and of using his hands to enhance materials from it.

As a teenager, he carved driftwood into Viking ships. Then, as a young man working in conventional construction, he met an arrowhead collector who showed him several places across Mid-Missouri for great finds, which he would continue for more than 30 years.

For 25 years, Nevins designed and constructed timber-frame homes, investing hours of research for historic integrity. And he hunted with bow and arrow.

About five years ago, after retiring from construction, he took up carving seriously.

Inspired by a Native American medicinewoman, he became fascinated with creating authentic replicas of prehistoric effigy pipes.

At the same time, he enjoyed flintknapping stone points and carving the mysterious bannerstones of the paleoindians.

"I've always been interested in artifacts and archaeology," Nevins said.

Although he wasn't creating his works of stone, clay and wood with the primary goal of sale, Nevins said he would carry his wares to knap-ins and other area events related to primitive activities.

Four years ago at the Osage Knap-in, he looked up from his flintknapping to watch the atlatl throwers across the Cooper County field. He thought they might be interested in some of his stone points.

Instead, they invited him to try throwing the darts with the atlatl.

"He handed me a dart and an atlatl," he remembered. "I was lousy, but I was hooked immediately.

"I knew what an atlatl was, but I had been more interested in bannerstones. I didn't know how effective a weapon it was."

It might look wobbly and low-tech, but as president of the Missouri Atlatl Association, he has learned the skills many members have. They've hunted deer and caught fish with the weapon, which was approved by the Missouri Department of Conservation as a hunting weapon.

"These guys were accurate at long distances," he said.

Some throwers reach 70 miles per hour. Although he's still not as skilled as others, it's the challenge that keeps him enthused.

And he appreciates the history surrounding the tools. Where the bow and arrow has been in North America about 2,000 years, the atlatl is recorded to have been used as many as 12,000 years ago, he said.

The atlatl is simple to make and inexpensive. Yet they still hold mysteries.

"I still haven't figured out everything about these things," Nevins said.

The Missouri Atlatl Association is one of the most active in the nation, holding events about 40 weekends out of the year.

"It's just a lot of fun; you compete against yourself," Nevins said.

Many of the members are archaeologists, anthropologists or well-read on the background of the tools and finds. Nevins said the conversations among the members can be as fulfilling as the throwing competitions.

"It's an enjoyment I don't find anywhere else," he said. "I like being around like-minded people."

One of the talented members is a engineering student at the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, who has recreated with precision detail recently discovered intact atlatls from the Yukon Territory in Canada.

Nevins and the state association will be featured in an episode of the Canadian show "The Nature of Things" on the student's work, which will be filmed next week at Graham Crave State Park in Montgomery City.

For Nevins, it's not the film crew that has him excited about the day, it's seeing the student's recreations.

"I don't care if I'm seen in the program; I just want to be there," Nevins said. "For atlatlists, it's historic.

"They're more sophisticated and precise than we thought," he said. "Considering the tools they had on hand, it's staggering how they made them."

World Atlatl Day is June 4. Associations across the world host simultaneous events. Using standards, they can then compare state team throw results, which can be fun, Nevins said.

"When you see the look on a kid's face when he hits the target, it's pretty satisfying," Nevins said.

The Missouri Archaeological Society selected the atlatl as its theme for the 18th annual Archaeological Month in September. Some of Nevins' carving recreations are featured in the society's promotional poster.

"I put a lot of work into these," Nevins said. "I shoot for authenticity. Power tools are too fast. I like to see what I'm making take shape slowly."

Fore more information about atlatls, visit worldatlatl.org.