Strong fibers can be extracted from a variety of plant and animal sources if you know where to look, when and how to harvest, how to process, and how to twist.
The basics learned in this course can be applied to a number of different types of fibers to create everything from a simple lashing to a bowstring!
Cordage production is certainly a very early technology. However, due to its organic nature natural fiber technology is difficult to see in the archaeological record. However, thanks to the need to use a variety of materials made from fibers such as cordage, nets and fibers in the production of ceramic vessels their negative impressions are often preserved in the fired clay vessels which more readily withstand the test of time – often for thousands of of years! Analysis of clay sherds complete with impressions of fibers technologies can tell us a lot about prehistoric fiber technology!
Students in this workshop will:
- Learn the different properties of plant and animal based fibers,
- How to identify fiber producing plants and how to harvest, process and store both plant and animal based fibers,
- How to produce useable cordage, lashings and rope from the processed fibers.
Depending on individual needs, courses can be created to include time for students to learn to transform their cordage made from natural materials into useful products such as primitive bowstrings or nets.
Students will learn to make use of plant bast and leaf fibers, and animal rawhide and sinew.
I learned cordage making for my dissertation where I recreated a fish-processing village in the middle of the Delaware River back in 2003.
Almost 20 years later, I still use these skills as I just tied a soccer net for my son!
Ready to learn these skills to help you #EatLikeaHuman?
Sign-up below using our class request form!
Self Bow Making
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