POTSDAM -- On Saturday, Oct. 15, students from Paul Smith's College and SUNY Potsdam will reboot a collegiate competition on the SUNY Potsdam campus using a hunting tool used worldwide thousands of years ago.

Each team, consisting of about 10 students and one faculty thrower, will be hurling an arrow-like spear upwards of six feet long using what's called an atlatl.

This shaped wooden stick, just under arm's length, can propel the large arrow at speeds approaching 100 mph.

Both teams will compete for a trophy in the target-based competition that begins at 1 p.m.

Archeological finds have been made both at Paul Smith's and SUNY Potsdam, and Paul Smith's College professor Curt Stager and SUNY Potsdam archaeologist Tim Messner are collaborating on expanding knowledge of native peoples in the North Country.

"It's a nice natural fit to have both schools with students and faculty interested in this subject," Stager said.

"One in the lowlands and one in the uplands, all considered home to indigenous peoples for thousands of years. We still see it that way, the whole North Country as our home."