Deceptively simple in design, the Australian boomerang looks more like a toy than a lethal aboriginal hunting weapon. But this thin, curved piece of hardwood is more than a throwing stick; it is artfully shaped to exploit the aerodynamic lift on its arms as it whirls through the air toward a distant target.
While boomerangs have been found worldwide, the earliest specimens date back 10,000 years to Australia, where the best and most elaborate boomerangs are still made. Boomerangs have played an important role in Australian Aboriginal culture and have commonly appeared in Aboriginal myth and art.
Boomerangs come in two types: the non-returning kind, which either strikes its prey or drops to the ground, and the returning kind, which circles back to the thrower and is primarily for sport and amusement.
A game of skill, boomerang-throwing has developed into a competitive sport in Australia, and today national and state championships are held annually.