History Of Boomerang

Boomerang is the name given to a wooden instrument that has been in existence since centuries. It can be divided into two basic types - returning boomerang and non-returning boomerang. The former one, as the name suggests, travels in a curved path and returns back to the starting point. The latter, on the other hand, does not come back and is mainly used for the purpose of hunting. Then, there is yet another form of boomerang that was not thrown at all; rather it was used in hand-to-hand combat. To order to acquaint you with the instrument fully, we have provided information on its history and origin below.

 

It is believed that boomerangs are amongst the first flying objects invented by humans, which were heavier-than-air. The oldest aboriginal returning-boomerang of Australia has been found to date back to over 10,000 years back. However, there have also been findings of hunting sticks in Europe that seem to be a par of the arsenal of weapons used in stoneage, thus tracing their origin to even more than 10,000 years old. As for the popularity of the instrument, King Tutankhamun, the Pharao of ancient Egypt, had a collection of returning as well as non-returning (straight) boomerangs.

 

As far as the exact origin of returning boomerangs go, there is no exact information as to when and how it came into being. Still, it has been speculated that the instrument developed from a flattened throwing stick (straight boomerang), still used by the Australian Aborigines and even other tribal people, for hunting purposes. Coming to the history of straight boomerang, it is believed to have evolved from throwing sticks and clubs, used to fight with opponents. The oldest known straight boomerang till date is one made around 20,000 years ago, from Mammoth tusk.