A newly tested replica for our Archaeology Art collection, of one of the boomerangs/non returning duck hunting throwing sticks discovered in the tomb of King Tutankamun from ancient Egypt.  In 1922, archaeologist Howard Carter discovered this famous tomb, and one of the treasures inside was a collection of over 20 throwing sticks.  These were included so that hunting could continue in the afterlife, for waterfowl along the Nile.  This replica follows the original measurements from Howard Carter's 1922 notes on boomerang 370-BB, which are 46 cm (around 18 inches), 3.3 cm wide, and .8 cm thick and weighing 95g. Our replica was made in Sycamore wood, which is one of the likely wood choices listed by Carter as possibile for many of these. The wing cross sections were also drawn by Carter, and this one made to the same air foil described, which is classic for RETURNING boomerangs.  Flight testing resulted in a steadily climbing upward path for about 50 yards, and then up and returning about a 3rd of the way, when thrown in the conventional hunting stlyle of level to ground.  When thrown like a modern sport returning boomerang, and more perpendicular to the ground, it would fly in a path around 50 yards, and return about a third of the way as before.  We wanted to test this piece to see if it could be made to return further, but did not want to alter the physical dimensions that were already matching closely to the original, with the weight mass nearing the weighed original.  In order to improve flight,  heat bending was used to add skew/twist to the limbs, without changing the exact matching weight, by adding or removing wood.  Carter's notes also mention the upward bend and skew of limbs, indicative of returner type. This is commonly used to improve lift.  Final testing to the limits of description ended with a "hybrid" throwstick that could be thrown conventionally as bird hunting stick, and thrown perpendicular to the ground to get a different flight path.  Either method produced a path of outward to around 50 yards and returning about a 3rd of the way back.  The conclusion was that the original was a bird hunting stick that could possibly be thrown over water and return to land, if thrown laterally across shoreline.   It might be possible with further twisting and tuning to get this model to fully return, but the new conclusion is that a return might not have been the goal,  and it was made for hunting function more than sport.  Retired now after testing with small cosmetic dings from testing in grass fields.  There were several small cracks in the center of the stick, and those were filled with a penetrated epoxy. This made the stick plenty strong for testing and it still exists now as a functional thrower with no other damage.  For this reason, this replica will be listed on the Clearance Collection, although these defects are not visible on the surface after staining to match original's color.
   Last picture shows display of King Tut's throwsticks in the Egyptian Museum, and the example labed BB at center of photo.  It is potentially a dangerous weapon, so should only be used in fields clear of all peope and pets/animals.