Neanderthals used magnesium blocks to start fires

[Toddy]

What I'd find interesting is if we knew of any other culture (modern, antiquity, pre-colonialisation, anywhere in the world) who used this stuff like that.
Does anyone ? or is it just something that our 'industrialised' minds think is a good idea ?

M

 

[Janne]

I hope a skilled member here tries out how the Manganese Dioxide works practically.

Yes, it lowers the needed temperature for the fire wood, but I am pretty sure they first used something like finely shredded Birch bark, Cattail wool, Swamp wool or that tree fungus to catch the spark.

 

[Baelfore]

That's Really interesting.

Thanks for sharing.

atb
Ste

 

[forrestdweller]

Interrsting, and feasible. But how did they get the spark? Have the archeologists found remains of Iron pyrite or similar?

as far as I'm aware of archeologists found a 36.000 y.o. piece of pyrite with a groove worn in it (from striking with flint) in Belgium. it was of cro magnon origin but dates to about the time neanderthals disappeared uppy_dog

 

[Joonsy]

I hope a skilled member here tries out how the Manganese Dioxide works practically.

Yes, it lowers the needed temperature for the fire wood, but I am pretty sure they first used something like finely shredded Birch bark, Cattail wool, Swamp wool or that tree fungus to catch the spark.

you don't need a spark, put a bit of manganese dioxide onto a bit of cotton wool and roll it up tightly into what looks like a cigarette shape, then roll it fast between two flat surfaces (two bits of flat wood will do) and hey presto in a very short time you have a glowing ember. It's called the Fire Roll or Rudiger Roll which works with many types of material (see my post 14 above). If you want some manganese dioxide just break open an alkaline battery as it's used to make them.

Fire Roll with manganese dioxide in vid below. (check out the guys other Fire Roll / Rudiger Roll vids).

[video=youtube;-xyfNNdrWRc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xyfNNdrWRc[/video]

 

[Janne]

Makes you wonder why he is barefoot?

Maybe he is stark naked?

 

[redneck]

Very interesting video I've never seen that method before.

 

[forrestdweller]

Very interesting video I've never seen that method before.

sorry if I go somewhat : does anyone know where this method originates?! ruediger nehberg mentions it frequently in his books/videos but I haven't found it in any other books about survival/bushcraft ((it didn't occur to me to ask him this trifle question when I met him.....))

 

[Toddy]

Not a clue. I thought it was supposed to be done with coarse-ish ash/charcoal from a previous fire though

I keep meaning to try it with bog cotton, see if I can get an ember from it that way.

M