How the Throwing Wood and

the Boomerang Developed

Attempt on a Historico-Cultural Compendium Based on the Thesis by J. E. J. Lenoch "Throwing Wood and Boomerang"; Vienna, 1949

In his thesis LENOCH tries to work out the historico-cultural basics and relations of an element of culture, the throwing wood, while at the same time considering temporal and local aspects and combining them. The first chapter of LENOCH´s thesis deals with the conceptual separation of the throwing wood and the boomerang. The following chapters are arranged geographically, according to countries and regions.

Genesis, Development and Definition of the Throwing Wood and the Boomerang.

The use of the throwing wood is verified by rock paintings dating from the Neolithic Age (since approx. 5000 v.Chr.). Finds from this time are not really suitable as unique proofs, because wooden pieces of equipment are only hard to preserve through thousands of years. The throwing wood was mainly a hunting weapon (long-range weapon, flying weapon) to hunt hares, birds and other small animals. Its use as a battle weapon played a minor role.

Its character as a battle weapon was lost as soon as the culture reached a higher stage of development. The throwing wood developed separately in different places of the planet. LENOCH assumes in his thesis that an object of examination (such as the throwing wood and boomerang) is determined by function, shape and material. The genesis of the throwing wood and the boomerang is therefore directly linked with the prevailing environmental conditions and the stage of development of the corresponding people.

The environmental conditions presuppose the existence of suitable materials (here: wood) of a certain strength, sufficient elasticity and a grain which runs uninterruptedly in natural bends. Also, there had to be animals which could be hunted and the technical knowledge which was a prerequisite for the production and the operation of these weapons.

LENOCH describes the throwing wood as follows: „The throwing wood is a crooked piece of wood,which is able to fly with or without having a grip. Generally it is thrown and then rotates in the air, but occasionally it also can be used as a club. Unlike the throwing club, the throwing wood does not concentrate on the effect of hitting. Only the variant which returns to the thrower is called a boomerang.

With his description of the object, LENOCH distinguishes the term of "throwing wood" from other terms like "throwing club" or "throwing stick". With the throwing club the effect of hitting is mostly concentrated at the distal end, while the throwing stick is a straight rod of hard wood which rotates while flying.

The throwing stick is mostly sharpened at both ends and hits top first. A boomerang can be understood as the variant of the throwing wood which is used for playing and sports and with which a return throw can be made. The origin of the name remains unsolved, though LENOCH tries some etymological approaches.

In the second chapter dealing with Europe LENOCH already comes to a conclusive result, in our opinion, in which he determines the localities where the historical origins of the boomerang must be located. For this reason we went boyond LENOCH´s description here and have investigated his source texts to analyze the evidential value of his core statement. Afterwards we will describe his geographical outline.

The invention of the boomerang is commonly ascribed to the Australians, however, according to LENOCH, it is probable to have been invented in India and the ancient Orient; and for ancient Europe it is even proved. LENOCH refers to two historical texts, mainly to the one by ISODORUS HISPALENSIS, the bishop of Sevilla of that time. He wrote in the 7th century in his "ORIGINES":

The terms in brackets refer to differing passages from the original text of "ISODORI". A possible translation of the text-here by Beate Rodenberg- is:
It was called the clava (stick) - of the same composition like the one Hercules had- , because it was fixed with two iron clubs on either side; it has the length of half a cubit.
This is the cateia (throwing club), which was called caia (club, cudgel) by Horaz. There is a kind of a Gallic missile consisting of very flexible (inert) material, which does not fly very long, when it is thrown because of its heavy weight, but arrives there nevertheless. It only can be broken with a lot of power. But if it is thrown by a master (its builder), it returns to the one who threw it. Vergil reminds us with the following words: " One used to fling throwing clubs similar to the habit of the Teutons". Since then both the Spanish and the Germanics call those "teutonas".

Explanations (partially taken from critical comments):
clava,ae f.:is a stick provided with a thick upper or lower ending (a throwing club)
cateia,ae f.: (celtic word) is a kind of throwing club of the Gauls and the Germanics (quotation from Engl. translation/comment OLD: "a curved missile weapon - perhaps a boomerang"/ Langenscheidt Dictionary: "a kind of boomerang")
caia,ae f.: a "club", a "cudgel", rarely used word (verified in Isodorus)
cubitum, i n.: the cubit (44cm then)

When evaluting this passage it becomes obvious, how wide the interpretational scope is. Nevertheless it is remarkable that popular English and German special dictionaries admit that this passage may indeed contain the description of a boomerang. Generally, the existence of boomerangs is considered absolutely possible within ancient Europe.

At the same time one must admit that mythical heroes and gods often carry weapons which always come back by themselves.

The measurement of half a cubit-22 cm at that time because people were relatively short- is a reason against the theory of the cateia as a returning wood, if the heavy weight of the described object is taken into consideration.

A second historic passage consulted by LENOCH is no help with this problem, because the problem of what a cateia is is left unsolved. Caius Silius Italicus says (translation B.R.):
Only then did the Makers of Cinyps learn, how to pitch tents in the camp in the manner of the Phoenicians; Filthy beards cover the faces of the men; furs of a hairy goat cover their shoulders; the hand is armoured with a Cateia (s.a.) .

With the following outline we tried to give a carthographic overview of LENOCH´s text.