mossdog427 wrote on Jul 1^st, 2011 at 11:42am:

   If I were the commanding general of an ancient army this is the answer I would go with both.  Both weapons have their advantages and limitations.  Along with all of my other usual units I would have my battalion of slingers and my battalion of archers.  However, in that they're small, cheap and easy to make, and easy to carry, every single soldier in my army, whether heavy infantry, cavalry, cook, doctor, or horn blower,  would have at least one sling in his possession and he'd know how to use it. There's no reason not to and lots of circumstances where it could come in very handy.
  Mayan, welcome to slinging.org.  You may be underestimating the power of the sling.  I think that depending on the hit, a glancing blow can do considerable damage.  Even if you didn't kill your opponent you could certainly take him out of the battle for the day.  Also, lead glandes can certainly penetrate the human body and some of the more inferior ancient armor.  Though it's true that a sling projectile looses much of it's power after one hundred feet there's still plenty of power left at the end of a very long shot to do some serious damage.  

Jaegoor wrote on Jul 13^th, 2011 at 6:19pm:



Lead looks to me like a relatively simple way to greatly increase the effectiveness of the sling in battle.

How hard would it have been back in those days to cast lead glandes in comparison to making an arrow? What would the cost of one be compared to an arrow?

This question can not generally be answered. There are too many vriables that tip the decision to either point. First is the opponent, that has scarcely been discussed so far. The Spanish feared the Inca slingers far more than the archers, as the momentum can kill qrmoured soldiers, whereas stone tips break. Next is the ammo, from historical and archaeological sources we know burned clay from 13 to 350 gram, lead from 10 to 150 gram, and stone from 30 to 450 gram at least, all in varying shapes. Concerning the lead 20g biconoid glans against a phalanx is perhaps almost useless, but gret to hold peltasts at bay. 100g glandes were highly feared by Romqn heavy infantry. 25g dried clay droplet shape bullets may sound like not impressive, but the Uruk soldiers wiped out a city with this bullets and fighting style. Easy and cheap to manufacture and handle like ak47 bullets nowadays. Also very effective if tze degree of armour is not to vast at the opponent.

Last but not least my favourite - the sling
Main reasons: little space and weight for transport, steric advantage for storage, low probability of damage  during transport, availibiliy and price of bullets, thus higher number of shots. Shallow learning curve thus life-long training. Plus the fun factor 😀

For food I would go traps and foraging. Then get a bow stave rough it and the arrows out. Set aside to cure, then atlatl, then sling while I'm waiting assuming I'm not dead yet.

Mostly because atlatl does not require high quality cordage to make so it would be an immediate large game weapon.  Sling would need cordage so might as well gather good natural fiber and make enough for a bowstring while I'm at it. Finish sling, make enough for fishing line and make bowstring. Then if stave is cured finish bow. Then most likely die anyways.

Throwing stick is quickest and easiest. Pointy stick next. Big rock can be good too.

    In my statement above I was referring to projectile weapons.  The very first weapon I'd make would be a wood tipped spear.  This is something I could make in minutes that would allow me to keep some distance between myself and wild critters.  I could stab and bash with it or throw it. If nothing else having it in my hands would give me a  little confidence. It wouldn't stop a bear, lion, elephant, etc. but it would be better than nothing.

AncientCraftwork wrote on Aug 25^th, 2019 at 3:51pm:


yes but still it is the weapon that puts the projectile further away from your eyes than any other contemporary. the closer to the eyes the easier it is to aim with no previous experience using just conscious decisions and logic.
the discussion about survival is when you grab a weapon out of nowhere and you need it ready asap, in that situation i would start with a stick and rocks of different sizes for hand throwing and smashing. for a bow you need too many tools and patience and so many things can go wrong during the making , so next is a javelin and a sling.