Aboriginal British Technology Information

[Pappa]

Hi,

Does anyone know a good source (book, website, other) for information about primitive/aboriginal british technologies. I'm trying to find out about tools and technologies which have been found in the archaeological record here.

I've already got a lot of information about mining and metal production via the book 'Early Metal Mining and Production' by Paul T. Craddock (ISBN 1560985356).

I'm looking for reviews of things like spear-throwers, fire lighting equipment, containers, etc.

Thanks,

Pappa

 

[AJB]

Yes, they’re called Haynes manuals – British Leyland/Rover.

 

[Marts]

That's a BIG question Pappa. There are an awful lot of books and many of them are university press and so expensive and hard to rent.

You could try:

Bill Wyman's Treasure Islands - this covers lots of british archaeological finds

Domestic Wooden Artefacts in Britain and Ireland from Neolithic to Viking Times
by Caroline Earwood

A Study of Lower Palaeolithic Stone Artefacts from Selected Sites in the Upper and Middle Thames Valley, with Particular Reference to the R.J.MacRae Collection (British Archaeological Reports (BAR) British S.)
by Hyeong Woo Lee

Or a lot of BAR stuff really.

A good primer is:
Bronze Age Britain (English Heritage S.)
by Michael Parker Pearson
(But this might be a bit late period for what you want)

Stone Tools and Society: Working Stone in Neolithic and Bronze Age Britain
by Mark Edmonds (haven't read this though)

or push the boat out (£70!)
Late Stone Age Hunters of the British Isles
Christopher Smith
(seen this but no way am I buying it )

Any way hope they're of some use. As I said there's a lot to choose from - bearing in mind that there aren't a huge amount of examples left of bio-degradable technologies. Fine if you want lithics stuff though.

 

[Rhodri]

Hi Pappa,

I second what Marts has just said. He's also suggested some good starting points in terms of books.

You might have a difficult search I'm afraid. As far as I'm aware there's been no real attempt at collecting such info together in one place. For two main reasons I think:

1. The way prehistoric technology has been studied and researched. Archaeological specialists work in quite narrow fields: lithics, pottery, woodwork etc. Each subject is usually treated in isolation and publications in most cases deal with a single or small group of sites (largely to do with the way archaeology has been funded for the last 20 years or so). The kind of 'collected flintwork of Britain' type of book tends to be the culmination of a life's work. Let alone a 'prehistoric domestic artefacts of all types' kind of book...

2. It doesn't survive/we couldn't find it/didn't know what it was. Many of the day-to-day items associated with bushcraft (such as the containers you mention) were simply made of material that very rarely survive on archaeological sites in Britain. Wooden artefacts of this kind make hen's teeth look common... Sometimes we probably just don't recognise things or have difficulty interpreting them. For example stone tool specialists often write about things called 'fabricators' that are assumed to have been associated with fire-lighting. But we don't know really...

IMHO early prehistory (by which I mean up to the end of the Mesolithic) is entirely bushcraft - people living with the land etc. So perhaps just look at some particular early sites, the famous one at Star Carr in Yorkshire is one of the most interesting from a Bushcraft perspective. Start 'Googling'...

Also IMO there's too little emphasis on Bushcraft type things in later prehistory. Archaeologists have tended to worry about political divisions and the reasons for building monuments etc and 'forgot' about how day-to-day life was carried out.

I know this post isn't very helpful but there isn't an easy answer. You'll have to immerse yourself in some pretty boring literature to get anywhere. Take a deep breath and dive in...

If you have any specific questions about sourcing any books or papers you might be ineterested in get in touch - I'll help all I can

Good luck.
Rod

 

[ilovemybed]

Yes, they’re called Haynes manuals – British Leyland/Rover.

Boooo!


(Stag owner. NO IT DOESN'T OVERHEAT!)

 

[Marts]

Hi Rhodri - A working archaeologist! When I finished my degree I couldn't find any work that didn't involve getting covered in mud!
Then I went and got addicted to bushcraft! Now I'm always covered in the stuff

 

[Rhodri]

Hi Rhodri - A working archaeologist! When I finished my degree I couldn't find any work that didn't involve getting covered in mud!
Then I went and got addicted to bushcraft! Now I'm always covered in the stuff

Yes, though some of the developers/builders who get stung with the bills for my exploits might take issue with the 'working' bit...

Funny though, you'd have thought I would have wanted a nice clean, indoor hobby but no... Get cold, wet and dirty during the week then go and do the same again on the weekend. My wife despairs...

 

[jdlenton]

Hi Pappa

I too am deeply interested in the early abo history of the British Isles, the technologies that our ancestors used and that were either lost through invasion and adoption of outside ideas or replaced through the natural evolution of technology.

I find that as Rodri has said; looking at early sites is the best way for me to learn. I look at the sight and its location in the surrounding landscape, the finds, and what the experts have to say and then I make my own mind up about the use of the place about the tools and about what the people where doing. I like visiting the British Museum from time to time that’s good too, but they only show a small section of stuff in the period we’re talking about. I have also gained a lot of understanding through looking at and visiting French sites around this period there seem to be more of them IMO and the displays of artefacts and texts seem better than UK stuff but that’s just my opinion.

I don’t have any real information about books I gave up trying to find definitive sources a long time ago but I think I’m going to have to find some of the titles marts has suggested as they would fill some more gaps in my knowledge

Its go to know that I’m not the only armature who’s really interested in these technologies and techniques the only trouble is that the landscape we now live in is million miles form that of the people we wish to study.



Happy hunting

 

[Pappa]

I suppose I already knew there wouldn't be a "Prehistoric Technology of the British Isles" book. I imagine I would have found it by now if it it did exist.

Thanks for the info everyone. It'll definitely set me off in the right direction.

By the way, that "Early Metal Mining and Production" book I mentioned is really good (if you like that sort of thing).

Pappa

 

[Marts]

A couple of others that might be more along the lines you're after Pappa:


Primitive Technology: A Book of Earth Skills
David Wescott (Editor)

Primitive Technology II: Ancestral Skills - From the Society of Primitive Technology
David Westcott (Editor)


I have the first one on order at the moment and will post some thoughts on it when I get round to reading it ( I have far too many books to get through )
I don't think they are specific to just prehistoric britain though.

 

[jdlenton]

Marts

I got my copy of “Primitive Technology: A Book of Earth Skills” last week and it’s a great read learnt loads I’d order “Primitive Technology II: Ancestral Skills” tomorrow but I’ve been banned from buying anymore books by SWMBO until I sort out a new book shelf

 

[Marts]

Ahh! I get stuff sent to work and bring it home bit by bit to get past domestic customs (who much like HM customs is a law unto herself)

 

[ganit]

I would recomend Konrad Spindler's "The man in the ice" about the the man they found frozen in a glacier on the Austrian Italian Alps. At that time and for a very long time before people all over Europe including Briatin lived much as this man did. Chapters 2 & 3 The ice mans equipment and the ice mans clothes are very interesting. There has never been a find comparable to this interms of finding such a complete survival kit intact with the body, unlike various murdered or sacrificed bodys dug out of bogs.

I would also recomend any good book on basketry and rush work, baskets havent really changed in 10'000 years

Also, H.L Edlin's Woodland crafts in Britain, fantastic book, written at the end of the era of woodland craft industries as real working industries, lots of information on tools, materials and methods that have been around, in many cases since before the Romans.

These are just my personal faves, but in truth this forum is a fantastic source of tips and tricks, though this is only my second post here ive been following it for quite a while on and off.