The Native Importance Of Fire- Fire has played an important role in the Native American way of life. Beyond its expected use for cooking and heating, Native Americans also used fire to alter the landscape to suit their needs. Fire was used to clean underbrush to make the land suitable for farming and to herd animals into the open for hunting. These fires were entirely controlled, and specific fire-starting tools were used to start them. Fire Drill- A fire drill is a simple device used by Native Americans to start fires. This wooden tool was made up of two parts: a wooden stick and a flat piece of wood with small depressions carved into it. By holding the stick upright in one of the shallow grooves and twirling it, friction begins to build up. As the friction increases, the stick begins to heat up and eventually creates a spark. This process is carried out either near or on bits of dried grass or bark so that the sparks will ignite the tinder. The simplistic construction of this tool means that one could easily be created whenever it was needed. Bow & Drill Fire Starter- Similar to the fire drill is the bow fire starter. This tool uses the same components as the fire drill (stick and fireboard), but it adds two extra pieces that make the process less labor-intensive. The first of these is a socket made of wood or stone that is held against the top of the stick to hold it in place. In order to ensure that the stick is able to rotate, there should be a small depression in the socket that is greased with wax or another fluid material. The other addition is a small bow, the string of which is looped once around the stick. As the bow is sawed back and forth, the stick spins much more rapidly than it would if the person was only using his hands. A fire bow can start a fire with few as 20 quick strokes. Flint & Pyrites/Strike-a-Light Pouch- Prior to the advent of steel, Native Americans use flint and pyrites to start fires. The stones are struck together quickly in order to create a spark that ignites the tinder set up in preparation for a fire. This fire-starting tool was generally used throughout the northern regions of North America (Alaska, Newfoundland, northern Ontario) and was possibly introduced to Native Americans by Scandinavian settlers in the 11th century (flint and pyrite commonly used in northern Europe). To carry the stones, Native Americans would wear a strike-a-light pouch either at their waist or in a case strapped to their wrist. This pouch allowed Native Americans to have the tools necessary to start a fire with them at all times.
Posted on: Sun, 19 Oct 2014 14:19:18 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015