In addition to the desktop trap collection I have been revisiting my primitive tool making skills in preparation for teaching the NCFE level 3 at Survival School. I have been out and about gathering and working on some of the bits and bobs I need. Before I teach I like to revisit a skill and recreate/create new pieces to refresh and renew my skill set and well as expand my collection of demonstration pieces. This process also reminds me of what the learner has to go through when learning a new skill.
I have been up and out at unearthly hours preparing cutting, cutting grinding and shaping stinky bone and antler with rocks and flint to create new bone needles, awl/drill bits, arrow heads and hooks.
In creating the tools I like to use the flint microliths formed when I make flint tools to cut and shape the bone and antler before grinding. They are the perfect tools for the job, flint scores and shapes bone like nothing else, I can usually find the perfect size and shape of flake I need for the job in my pile of debitage, I hate wasting anything.
I have not only been working with bone and antler but gone full caveman and been revisiting flint knapping and slate grinding, starting off with expanding and fixing my knapping tool kit.
Even a trip to the beach resulted in a little lithic working, bipolar percussion and grinding in addition to some awesome art work thanks to the naturally occurring ocher.
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