That last question is the most interesting to me. I guess it doesn’t take much intuition to realize that rubbing things together makes them hot. Rub your arm really fast.
Still, watching experienced woodsmen starting a fire from scratch is an education. Even the best struggle.
Oh, of course. He’s very familiar with his area and the best materials to use, and has lots of practice. But he’s also pretty famous for showing his work without cuts, and I am always amazed with his hand drill skills. He’s got an ember in like twenty seconds.
It really is an interesting question, yes! Fires started by frictional heating are pretty uncommon in nature, but early humans could pretty readily see that objects placed near a fire would begin to smolder and burn just from radiant heat.
It really depends on when we were able to take intellectual leap of realizing that all heat is equivalent, and fire is not a prerequisite of making new fire.
That last question is the most interesting to me. I guess it doesn’t take much intuition to realize that rubbing things together makes them hot. Rub your arm really fast.
Still, watching experienced woodsmen starting a fire from scratch is an education. Even the best struggle.
I have watched Primitive Technology start fires with a hand drill so many times, he’s got it down pat.
Primitive Technology can also select their tools for maximum gain. Apparently it’s relatively easy when you’ve got the right woods and kindling.
When you’re somewhere in the wilds your wood might be too hard, too soft or too wet or whatever.
Oh, of course. He’s very familiar with his area and the best materials to use, and has lots of practice. But he’s also pretty famous for showing his work without cuts, and I am always amazed with his hand drill skills. He’s got an ember in like twenty seconds.
It really is an interesting question, yes! Fires started by frictional heating are pretty uncommon in nature, but early humans could pretty readily see that objects placed near a fire would begin to smolder and burn just from radiant heat.
It really depends on when we were able to take intellectual leap of realizing that all heat is equivalent, and fire is not a prerequisite of making new fire.