Some useful references and links....
Useful References
Walter Hough - Fire as an Agent in Human Culture (1926) - useful ref guide, and describes methods used around the world. (though I question the theory that horizontal fire drills were peculiar to Europe - he's basing it on Sir James Fraser...)
Walter Hough - The Methods of Fire Making (1890)
Walter Hough - Fire Making Apparatus in the United States National Museum (1928)
(note - there are many other Walter Hough (American ethnologist.) books available from Smithsonian Libraries)
Sir James Fraser - The Golden Bough - useful information on Fire Festivals of Europe and need fire though you have to be a little careful and wonder how embellished some of the information is (e.g. horizontal fire drills etc). And not that easy a read
Sir James Fraser - Myths of The Origins of Fire - useful for fire origin stories though not an easy read. I've not found a e-book version.
Dwelly-d by Edward Dwelly, the online version of the authoritative dictionary of Scottish Gaelic
Carmina Gadelica by Alexander Carmichael (folklorist 1832-1912)
Not Feuer by Johannes Reiske printed 1696 - in German!
Stephen J Pyne - Vestal Fire. An Environmental History, Told Through Fire, of Europe and Europe's Encounter with the World
Stephen J Pyne - The Fire Age
Lagercrantz - African methods of fire making - I want it! But haven't found it yet!
Cave Archaeology in the Yorskhire Dales
Survival Skills of Native California,
Fire Making Methods in the American Museum by Walter Hough
The Early History of Fire - an interesting article about the early history of fire
Viking Fire Methods - interesting article on fire starting in the Viking age
Aboriginal Fire Making_ - interesting chapter in The American Anthropologist
The Bow Drill in North America - article regarding use of bow drill in North America
Egyption Fire Drill - Picture of 4000 year old Egyptian Bow Drill Set
Inuit Bow Drill - Picture of Inuit bow drill. The bow is made of caribou rib bone and the cord from sealskin. The bearing block is made from antler .
Organisations I support:
Survival International - a UK based charity, and the global movement for tribal peoples' rights. They are the only organization that champions tribal peoples around the world, and help them defend their lives, protect their lands and determine their own futures. The work Survival does is much needed to protect Indigenous peoples throughout the world - it is disgusting how they have been and still are treated.
Survival International - a UK based charity, and the global movement for tribal peoples' rights. They are the only organization that champions tribal peoples around the world, and help them defend their lives, protect their lands and determine their own futures. The work Survival does is much needed to protect Indigenous peoples throughout the world - it is disgusting how they have been and still are treated.
Associated Skills:
Making nettle cordage - an article on how to make nettle cordage
How to Sharpen A Bushcraft Knife - it's so easy to sharpen your knife wrongly! A good article on how to do it correctly.
UK Knife Laws
Making nettle cordage - an article on how to make nettle cordage
How to Sharpen A Bushcraft Knife - it's so easy to sharpen your knife wrongly! A good article on how to do it correctly.
UK Knife Laws