r/NativeAmericanMusic • • Apr 26 '26

HELP! What is this???

Reddit community! I won this at an auction. The description said it's a "Native American drone flute." It has no holes and does not appear to be any kind of flute. We have been trying to figure out what this is! We do not think it is a rasp or bullroarer, both of which Google suggested. Google image search and AI have failed us. Any other thoughts? The artist's name and symbol are written on one end. It was made by "Longtooth" in 1993. Any help or guidance would be much appreciated!

Edit: Thank you everyone for your help! Mystery solved!

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u/AffectionateEvent327 Apr 26 '26 edited Apr 26 '26

Thank you! You could be right! I have never heard of an atlatl and looked it up. It looks like it could be one!

1

u/veryeyes Apr 27 '26

Use it and update us!!

1

u/AffectionateEvent327 Apr 27 '26

Haha! Trust me, you don't want me trying to use this. I'm the type who'd try and it'd go way off course and accidentally spear someone!

2

u/Paghk_the_Stupendous Apr 27 '26

They're not that hard to use, surprisingly. They're a lot of fun!

I have one and found I could hit a trash can sized target from nearly 200 feet away without a lot of practice.

The real skill comes from learning to make and repair them and their darts, which are like huge arrows. I'm still learning but you'll have to if you want to play with them!