I am an academic archaeologist teaching at Grinnell College in Iowa, USA. I work with analysis and replication of prehistoric technologies, especially stone tools and atlatls, and early agricultural technology. I have written two books, Flintknapping: Making and Understanding Stone Tools, and American Flintknappers, an ethnographic look at non-academic knappers. Spearthrowers are my current research focus. I use atlatls to promote experimental archaeology in 3 ways:

1. Teaching, in class and to the public, as a great way to introduce the complexity and social aspects of early technologies.
2. Making connections between archaeologists and the public, through demonstrations and participation in organizations like the World Atlatl Association.
3. Research, as experimental approaches still have much to teach us about even the best-known technology.