Perforated baton
[1] Many are decorated with carved or engraved animals, and recently the most usual explanation of their use is that they were used for straightening spears and arrows, and as spear-throwers.
They have been found at Aurignacian and Magdalenian sites of the Upper Paleolithic in Europe,[1] with examples dating from 35–12,000 years ago.
This interpretation is now thought unlikely; one French archaeologist wrote derisively of the name summoning up the image of "an aged general... directing... an assault on a mammoth".
[6] Other interpretations include: The British Museum "scope note" for "Perforated baton" says in 2011: "They are now understood to [be] implements used in the manufacture and throwing of spears.
[4][13] The spear thrower hypothesis was first put forward in an article by artist Leon Underwood in 1965.
In this, Underwood, who had previously engaged in experimental archeology working with bronze artefacts, rejected the classification of the bâton percé as a "magic wand", and drew comparisons between it and more contemporary Inuit spear throwers.
Underwood's hypothesis was that the existing samples of the bâton percé were in poor shape, and may have been missing a hook, such as that found on the Inuit spear thrower and the atlatl.
Underwood built two wooden models, based on different bâton percé from museum collections, but with the addition of a 'nipple' or hook to the end of the shaft opposite the hole.
[13] In another experiment, the bâton percé was used in the other orientation, held so that the end with the hole was outwards, and no hook was added.
Used in the method described, even the bâton percé's hole can be dispensed with, though the resulting spear thrower would be far more difficult to load and use.
In 2013 a number of batons were displayed in an exhibition at the British Museum Ice Age Art: Arrival of the Modern Mind.
[19] The "Murray Springs shaft wrench" appears to be a unique North American example of a similar tool made of bone and comes from the Clovis culture.
