Javelins are single-ended spears
designed to be thrown. The primary task is to get the spear
point to the target in an effective orientation in order to
maximize penetration damage. Accordingly the shaft was not
required to withstand blows from another weapon and was only
needed for balance and leverage. An atlatl is a wood or
bone extension of the throwing arm that increases tyhe
range and lethality of a javelin. The atlatl seems to have
been invented in Europe about 30,000 years ago and to have
reached Alaska about 15,000 years ago. It seems unlikely that
such a useful tool would not have made its way into China, but
there isn't any evidence that I know of, and Paleolithic
Chinese may not have been interested in hunting megafauna.
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