The term caber derives from the Gaelic word cabar, which refers to a wooden beam.
In Scotland sporting contests were staged at military meets, where the warriors of different clans could test their physical prowess. It was at one of these military musters in 1574 that the ‘tossing of ye barr’ (the caber) first appeared on record.
Caber Toss: A long log is stood upright and hoisted by the competitor who balances it vertically holding the smaller end in his hands. The competitor runs forward attempting to toss it in such a way that it turns end over end with the upper (larger) end striking the ground first with the smaller end that was originally held by the athlete hitting the ground second, being measured relative on how closely their throws approximate the ideal 12 o'clock toss on an imaginary clock. If successful, the athlete is said to have 'turned the caber'.
(above) did not turn the caber.
(below) example of a 2 o'clock toss
Although the sport is primarily associated with Scotland, there a many theories on what started the caber toss;
A similar exercise, "casting the bar", was also popular in England in the 16th century.
It is also said to have developed from lumberjacks needing to toss logs across narrow chasms in order to cross them or by lumberjacks challenging each other to a small contest.
Another theory is that that wooden poles were crafted and used to cross moats during attacks on castles. However, in the 16th century due to invention of effective siege instruments, moats were not commonly used in the defense of castles.
Most theories besides the first record of ‘tossing of ye barr’ in 1574, lack any strong historical evidence of being the starting point, but one thing is for certain, humans likes throwing things so picking up a tree and seeing how far it could be thrown for certain began long before the 16th century.
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