This limestone architectural element from the Egyptian New Kingdom (16th-11th centuries BCE) depicts two Egyptian men, Qar and Idu, hunting ducks with boomerangs. Most people think of Australia when they think of boomerangs, but “throwing sticks” have been used all over the world throughout human history, mainly by hunter gatherers. What ancient Egyptians like Qar and Idu were doing was taking one of the oldest hunting methods in human history (throwing a stick at something) and turning it into a pass time. It was so popular, in fact, that several throwing sticks for bird hunting were discovered in Tutankhmun’s tomb when it was excavated by a team led by Howard Carter in 1923.
Egyptian hunting boomerangs of Tutankhamun’s grave goods. Replicas from the special exhibition “Tutanchamun: Sein Grab und die Schätze” 2009 in MunichGermany. Author: Dr. Günter Bechly
