Making Neolithic Bone Textile Tools

Bone tools are common finds on prehistic sites, and today we explore a style that have been interpreted as tools for working flax, bark and other textiles.

The original tools being explored are from pile-dwelling sites in the circum-Alpine region and are from a time when flax is starting to become an important textile crop but many other fibres are still in use.

This video is part two of a series made during my MSc dissertation in Experimental Archaeology.

[katherinel]

“They are for scratching cats.”
Experimental archaeology never fails to amaze and astound me with its discoveries. 😂

[RachelRhiarti]

I can't believe you persisted in your assertions about the tool being used for flax when it had very clearly been shown to be a superior cat scratcher... Nice that it works as a multi-purpose tool for the flax too, though! Such a lovely video, as ever, and really fascinating to see the tools in use.

[ernststravoblofeld]

Modern leatherworkers use a bone tool exactly like that single blade one, for scoring leather to fold it. I imagine it would be useful for a lot of things.

[dawsie]

Hello Sally, back in the day when the Monks were making and binding books they use something a bit like this. As a bookbinder I had a set of bone folders in 2 different shapes and sizes. These days they are made out of plastic, but in the 70’s and early 80’s you could still get bone folders. I prefer the bone over the plastic ones. The did the job better where over time the plastic ones developed this funny wear pattern from folding the paper or velum. The bone ones would become super smooth with use from folding the velum and the oils from your hand. I wish I knew what happened to my bookbinding tools as they were very useful tools. I will have to visit my local butcher and see if he can cut some bone to size for me. I’m finding the old fashion tools do seem to work better for some projects so maybe I should make my own binding tools.
Thank you for showing me a different use for them.❤️❤️

[causewaykayak]

Suggestion for tidying up cord binding.
Starts with a Constrictor Knot (u tube has videos on this handy miller's knot or read it up in the Ashley book) because it grips like a limpet and can be tied 'in hand' instantly.

Select midpoint of zone to be bound. Take a very long piece of stuff, double it and work the Knot at that midpoint. Pull very tight.
You can let go now, it won't slacken.
Lay one of the ends out to the far edge of the binding zone, double it back to the knot and perform a simple whipping.
Do same on other side of The Knot
You then have a very secure grip with no untidy gaps and all cordage ends neatly out of sight. Lovely videos ma'am. I like the way you combine the academic study with outdoors adventure. Living archaeology -- tremendous stuff. ❤

[mikewood]

You have in your possession an orange cat....that makes you a superior person automatically.

[uncletiggermclaren]

I am a bone caver. Just to underline the safety warning, you ABSOLUTELY must wear a proper, and correctly fitting, dust mask. Paper medical masks are not good enough if you are using powered grinding or cutting tools. You should also wear eye protection, you can badly damage your eyes with the grit, you don't notice it while it is happening, but for days afterwards you will have very painful eyes.
When bone carving became popular here in New Zealand, we had a significant number of people who damaged their lungs and these were just people who were carving as a hobby.

[letiziavottero]

these videos make me so unreasonably happy, i love learning about these topics of history and the explanations are great!

[williamwarner]

Always a good idea to have a lit candle next to you when using pine pitch glue so you can heat up all the articles before applying the molten glue. You could have simply reheated everything and it would have stuck together better; with the right mixture, you should not have to worry about hot weather in your part of the world. (I'm hafting stone tools in the desert where it is currently about 47C.)

[leehowell]

I could simply watch you do these kinds of things all day - this is what YouTube is all about and I’m here for it

[daxhopkins]

When the thread of your needle is getting short, try going eye-first. Unless you are pushing through really tight holes, it still works; and you can get you an extra pass-through (or two).

[jennaforesti]

This tool looks a good bit like a similar tool used by persian rug makers. Their tool is used to beat the weft in hand knotted rugs. I've seen it used in a few videos.

[CleoHarperReturns]

Although I value the education I receive from your channel first, I also wanted to say that you have such a delightful personality.

[paulinemegson]

Ahhh the discovery of the ages…..it was all for the cats!! Lol
Interesting seeing you make Neolithic hot glue…….nice to see it was stringy and messy back then too ;)

[wendymoyer]

These videos are so cool, and make me incredibly happy. I have always, from a young age, been fascinated by all the things you vover in your videos, and I thank you for taking your time and energy to film, edit and upload them. ❤

[amandajingleheimerschmidt]

When you were scratching the cat; did anyone else get major “Wolverine” vibes?

[abittwisted]

Have a go with the bone ripple to pull the seeds off by putting the stalks between the tines then give the bone ripple a little bit of a twist first then pull being sure the edges of the bone are what run along the stalk to pop the heads off. Don't use it straight but angled. Then update on that little change. Bet it makes it a whole lot easier.

[BronzeAgeSwords]

Great film reminds me of Ray Mears on Country Tracks program before he became a celeb, it was the best thing on tv 20 years ago

[Suzitao]

Thank you for this Sally. Am learning interesting things thanks to your knowledge sharing here. I had to laugh when I saw the flax..it looks like my pre brushed hair! 😊🤭

[rin_okami]

That single blade tool is basically the same as a modern bone folder, used by all sorts of artists and craftspeople for all sorts of things. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, I guess lol