Boomerangs.com

Boomerangs and throw sticks have been multipurpose tools for aborigines for thousands of years. Throw sticks are great for hunting creatures like emus and lizards. Boomerangs can be used for hunting small birds and bats but are considered more of a recreational tool for most people in the modern world.

Some of the Egyptian pharaohs were buried with boomerangs and throw sticks in the pyramids. They were comparable to the bow and arrow in many ancient cultures. The boomerang was used primarily to hunt birds in the marshes of the Nile Delta. Scenes of tomb owners, about to hurl the weapon, were part of the artists' repertoire as early as the Old Kingdom (2700-2150 B.C.)

Australia was not the only place in the world where boomerangs and throwing sticks were developed. A 23,000-year-old mammoth tusk carved in a shape similar to the boomerang was discovered in Poland in 1986.

Boomerangs were used on virtually all inhabited continents in ancient times. An Iron Age wooden boomerang has been found in the Netherlands, for example, and a possible boomerang from mammoth bone has been found in Austria from the Upper Paleolithic period, over 10,000 years ago.

The oldest Australian boomerangs yet discovered were found in Wyrie Swamp, South Australia, in 1973 and have been dated to about 10,000 years ago.

Modern boomerangs are designed using CAD systems with a range of specialty materials. 10 ply airplane grade plywood with extra strength and lightness, for example. Light boomerangs are easier to throw for a full return. Strong material boomerangs are more durable, which is important because these objects travel swiftly through the air.

Many modern boomerangs are made from exotic materials such as carbon fiber, plastic composites and condensed paper constructions such as Paxolin. They are often molded with optimized airfoils for specific flight patterns. They may have holes in them for greater wind resistance or customization. They may be designed for specific boomerang sport events, such as MTA ( maximum Time Aloft ) or Aussie Round.