Thanks to everyone who took the survey. Here are the results, and some brief comments:
1. The main hunting weapons that the Neanderthals use are long thrusting spears, bolas and slings. Is it likely that the Neanderthals used slings?
Unknown: 6
Very unlikely: 1
I don't know whether they did or not, so I will comment on whether it makes sense in the context of the story. The Neanderthals in the story are very strong, but their arms have less range of motion than a HS. If this were true, then a flexible throwing weapon might allow them to compensate.
2. The Homo Sapiens in the series (apart from Ayla) do not use slings. In fact, they seem to have only a vague idea of what a sling is. They mostly hunt with throwing spears (though one person uses a throwing stick to hunt birds). Is it likely that significant numbers of HS were not using slings at this time?
Unknown: 6
Very unlikely: 1
I also don't know whether this is true. In the story hunting is generally a communal activity for HS, and they mostly pursue larger animals. This was probably true. But apart from one person who has a throwing stick, none of the HS carries a weapon that is suited for hunting small game, despite the fact that such game is plentiful. I think it's unlikely that HS wouldn't have something that is suited for hunting smaller animals, and a sling is a possibility.
3. Ayla's sling is made out of a single strip of leather. Is it likely that people living on the Eurasian steppe would have made their slings this way?
Unknown: 4
Possible: 2
Tomas made a nice sling out of a single piece of leather
http://slinging.org/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1478209312/0In the same thread Timothy Potter gives a reference to a Siberian sling that was made that way. But it probably isn't the most efficient way to make a sling.
4. Ayla develops a technique for rapidly throwing two stones from her sling. She throws the first stone, catches her sling on the downstroke, puts the second stone in the pouch while it is still moving and then follows through with a second throw. Is it likely that a person could rapidly throw two stones in this way?
Possible: 4
Unlikely: 4
There are some pretty fast slingers out there, so I think that it is possible, though I question how effective it would be for hunting
5. Ayla is able to kill hyenas and wolves with her sling. Is it likely that a sling could take down these sorts of animals?
Likely: 7
I wouldn't want my life to depend on taking down a wolf or a hyena with a sling, but I agree that you could do it. In the books Ayla regularly insta-kills such animals, which is implausible,
6. Ayla is able to hunt with her sling from horseback. Is it likely that a sling could be effectively used while riding a horse?
Unlikely: 4
Possible: 1
Argentinian gauchos were very effective at using bolas from horseback, and American cowboys use lassos, and both weapons present similar challenges to using a sling, so I think that it is possible. But it would take a lot of practice and probably isn't worth it.
7. One of the Homo Sapiens who sees Ayla sling rocks is inspired to try to do the same thing with spears. This eventually leads him to invent the atlatl. Is it likely that the sling inspired the development of the atlatl?
Possible: 2
Unlikely: 2
Unknown: 3
I also don't know which one came first or whether the sling inspired the first atlatl or vice versa. However, both the sling and the atlatl were independently discovered/invented by many cultures and it is possible that in one of these cases the one inspired the development of the other.
8. Four clods of dirt are thrown in the air at the same time. Ayla is able to hit all four with her sling before they hit the ground. Likely to happen?
Very unlikely/impossible: 6
Possible but unlikely: 1
I think this is very unlikely. Hitting four stationary clod-sized targets with four shots is impressive. Hitting them when they are moving and withing 10 seconds or so would be mind blowing.