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Primitive Skills And Crafts An Outdoorsman's Guide to Shelters, Tools, Weapons, Tracking, Survival, and More

Richard Jamison Linda Jamison

Copyright © 2007 by Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.

All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief excerpts in critical reviews or articles. All inquiries should be addressed to: Skyhorse Publishing, 555 Eighth Avenue, Suite 903, New York, NY 10018.

www.skyhorsepublishing.com

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Primitive skills and crafts: an outdoorsman’s guide to shelters, tools, weapons, tracking, survival, and more / compiled by Richard and Linda Jamison. p. cm.

Originally published: Woodsmoke. Bountiful, Utah: Horizon, c1997. LC does not have 1997 edition.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

9781602391482

1. Wilderness survival. 2. Outdoor life. I. Jamison, Richard L. II. Jamison, Linda, 1942- III. Wood smoke.

GV200.5.P75 2007

613.6’9-dc22

2007016177

Printed in Canada

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

Introduction

Acknowledgments

Contributors Biographies

Our Human Family

The Ultimate Weapon

Old Finnish Hunting and Fishing Techniques

Primitive Process Pottery

Stone Survival Tools

Yucca

Make Your Own Hide Glue

Traditional Basketry Materials

Tracking Skills

The Primal Gourmet

Whole-Shoot Willow Baskets

A Paleo Prescription

Barking Up the Right Tree

The Remarkable Fire Piston

An Introduction to the Atatl

Badgerstone

Pine Needle Basketry

“Rocking On” with the Paiute Deadfall

Philosophy of a Caveman

Living with Nature

Notes and References

Index

Introduction

It has only been in the last few hundred years that we humans have become disconnected with our life force. And as a consequence, our perception of our place in nature has deteriorated to the point that we are systematically destroying our environment and ourselves. Yet, ironically, by taking a step back in time, it is possible to take an immense step forward in understanding.

While we do not believe it is possible to return completely to the old ways, we do believe that once a person experiences the excitement of creating fire by ancient methods, molds a piece of the earth into a functional vessel of beauty, builds shelter using what nature provides, or experiences first-hand any of the life skills of our ancient ancestors, he or she will understand the vital alliance we all have with our past and our environment.

Acknowledgments

Woodsmoke Journal is and has always been a combined effort of many, and so this book is dedicated to our “abo” friends and trail companions—practitioners who have devoted themselves to a lifetime of study, experimenting, and living the old ways, and have generously shared their finding with others. To our contributors and all who fit this description, thank you. You have helped convey understanding and meaning to our lives.

RICHARD AND LINDA JAMISON

Contributors Biographies

Turkka Aaltonen

Turkka is a long-time Woodsmoke associate, survivalist and a published freelance writer in his native Finland. Turkka is the director of the Finnish Survival Guild, which conducts training workshops and expeditions in that country. He has written four books on outdoor subjects and publishes a quarterly booklet titled Survival News, which contains how-to information on primitive and technical outdoor skills.

Donald Fisher

Donald first became interested in aboriginal lifestyles as a student of Paul Hellweg at California State University. The two became friends and have collaborated on many projects during the past fifteen years. Don now teaches primitive skills, including stoneworking, lithics and brain tanning at colleges, universities and museums near his home in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Paul Hellweg

Paul is a past contributor to early Woodsmoke Journal issues as well as the books The Best of Woodsmoke and Primitive Outdoor Skills. He serves as an Assistant Professor on the faculty of California State University Northridge, where he teaches classes in backpacking, mountaineering, wilderness survival and basic flintknapping. An excellent flintknapper, Paul studied under the master, Don Crabtree. Paul is the author of the book Flintknapping, the Art of Making Stone Tools and eight other books including three climbing guides and several reference books.

Linda J. Jamison

Linda has participated in many primitive expeditions, both as a student and as an instructor. She has conducted field trips and lectured on wild plant identification and use at the University of Southern Colorado, University of Colorado, Pikes Peak Community College and to many clubs and organizations during the past twenty years. She was a director of Highland Survival School and editor of Woodsmoke Journal for six years. An English major, Linda currently writes film scripts and proposals in addition to being a published freelance writer of outdoor educational material. She was the executive producer of the Woodsmoke video series.

Richard L. Jamison

Richard is a noted expert who has received national recognition for his skill in primitive craftmanship and knowledge of aboriginal (prehistoric) skills. He is an accomplished, award-winning outdoor photographer (having majored in art with emphasis on photography at Weber State University in Utah) and a published writer. In 1973, Richard produced and filmed a series of outdoor educational films that was used by other instructors in schools throughout the United States and Europe. As director of Anasazi Expeditions, Richard conducted numerous primitive expeditions over the past twenty years, accumulating an impressive “trail time.” He was publisher of Woodsmoke Journal for six years and compiled two books which are distributed nationally—The Best of Woodsmoke and Primitive Outdoor Skills. In 1992, he produced and hosted a series of six Woodsmoke outdoor educational videos which are marketed nationally, primarily to schools and libraries. He is currently a production designer/ art director in the motion picture industry, specializing in large-format (IMAX).