Are thrown tridents considered ammunition or no?

We're playing Tomb of Annihilation (my first time, no spoilers please) so we're keeping careful track of things usually hand-waved: rations, water, ammunition.  Our barbarian threw a trident at maximum range (60') and, after the battle, the question was raised as to whether a trident used in such fashion is considered Ammunition and therefore subject to the "you can spend 1 minute to recover half the ammunition" rule.  What is your position, and is that based on either RAW or RAI (please indicate which)?

Thanks so much!

Weapons and ammunition are separate things in D&D rules. A thrown weapon isn't ammunition.

There aren't any specific rules about the recovery of thrown weapons. In my experience the assumption is always that they can be recovered unless something exceptional has happened that prevents the weapon from being reached.

Pretty much that, unless you like miss on the edge of a cliff, are in a chase so you can't pick it up etc if can be recovered. How picky the table is with you needing to say, I go and collect my thrown daggers or whatever seems to vary. 

You know, an Artificer could probably make a machine that uses tridents as ammo.

LOL

Quote from MyDudeicus >>

Pretty much that, unless you like miss on the edge of a cliff, are in a chase so you can't pick it up etc if can be recovered. How picky the table is with you needing to say, I go and collect my thrown daggers or whatever seems to vary. 

 Most tables I have played at, the DM will let you tell him something like "After combat, I will always go retrieve my thrown weapons. Let me know if something is irretrieveable." then be ok with you always assuming you can get your weapons back unless told otherwise. It's one of those basic bookkeeping actions that slows the table down a bit if you have to declare it every time, so most tables will let you streamline thingsa bit in the interest of faster play.

Quote from packman767 >>

You know, an Artificer could probably make a machine that uses tridents as ammo.

You could probably launch a trident from a ballista with only very minor modifications (ballista bolts would generally be more similar to spears or javelins, so the triple head might cause problems).

I expect there'd be a notable amount of extra wind resistance, and realistically a tri-pronged projectile should also be notably less effective since the force of the impact will be spread out.

Quote from The_Ace_of_Rogues >>

I expect there'd be a notable amount of extra wind resistance, and realistically a tri-pronged projectile should also be notably less effective since the force of the impact will be spread out.

Sure, in reality tridents are mostly for hunting Tiny fish (or they're pitchforks), where the increased hit probability outweighs the loss of penetration (Roman retiarii used tridents because it was entertainment, not because they were good weapons), but this is D&D. A devilish war machine carrying pitchfork launchers is entirely in theme.