What Were Boomerangs Originally Used for?

Boomerang, curved throwing stick used chiefly by the Aboriginals of Australia for hunting and warfare. Boomerangs are also works of art, and Aboriginals often paint or carve designs on them related to legends and traditions.

What was the original purpose of the boomerang?

Boomerangs were, historically, used as hunting weapons, percussive musical instruments, battle clubs, fire-starters, decoys for hunting waterfowl, and as recreational play toys. The smallest boomerang may be less than 10 centimetres (4 in) from tip to tip, and the largest over 180 cm (5.9 ft) in length.

How were boomerangs used for hunting?

“Boomerang” was the first popular term adopted from the Aboriginals by the colonists for these weapons and it remains so today. ... Hunters found that returning boomerangs could be used as decoys to imitate birds of prey and thus keep game birds grounded, where they could more easily be hunted by other means.