Primitive Technology - A Book of Earth Skills | 
| Creator: David Wescott
Publisher: Gibbs Smith, Publisher
Category: Book
List Price: $25.95
Buy New: $17.15
You Save: $8.80 (34%)
New (17) Used (11) from $16.94
Avg. Customer Rating:  10 reviews
Sales Rank: 36669
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 232
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.7
ISBN: 0879059117
Dewey Decimal Number: 930.1
EAN: 9780879059118
ASIN: 0879059117
Publication Date: March 26, 2001
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand New, Perfect Condition, Please allow 4-14 business days for delivery. 100% Money Back Guarantee, Over 1,000,000 customers served.
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Product Description
8 3/16 X 10 7/8 In, 232 Pp, 100 Black & White Photographs, 150 Line Drawings Have You Ever Longed To Return To A Past Where Humanity's Greatest Concern Was Survival, When Our Hands Created Life's Necessities, When The Land's Raw Provisions Were The Materials With Which We Created Warmth, Shelter, Food, and Tools--A Time Before We Lost Our Bond With The Wilderness? Primitive Technology Helps Build A Bridge Between The Ancient Past and Our Modern Lives, Putting Us In Touch Again With Nature and Ourselves. This Volume--A Selection of Articles Within The Bulletin of Primitive Technology--Portrays The History, Philosophise, and Personal Journeys of Authorities On Primitive Technology, Imparting Skills That Built The Success of Mankind. From Views On Primitive Technology and "New" Archaeology To Making Fire and Tools of Bone, This Book Is Informative and Enlightening< BR>
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| Customer Reviews: Read 5 more reviews...
 Communication May 7, 2008
It has occurred to me that a primitive technology for instant communication has existed for a long time: heliography. All you need it silver or gold metallurgy to make a decent mirror. A very simple way to precisely aim a beam of sunlight from a mirror exists, for the geomentrically unimpaired. With a large mirror, signalling from one mountain peak to another over distances of 50 miles is achievable.
I wonder if any ancient empires practiced this. The crusader kingdoms in Lebanon used fire beacons to indicate they had not yet been overrun by those pesky Arabs and Kurds, but there was no actual telegraphing of text. The earliest telegraph I know of was done in Sweden in the early 19th century, by semaphore assisted with telescopes. Sunny day and batteries not required, as long as there was daylight and a clear view.
One thing about this book... I went out right away, cut off a yucca spine, and started making string out of it. Yep, it really works (but is very labor intensive). Stone chipping was not so successful because you really need the right kind of stone. I've GOT TO TRY IT when I find a good stone!
overview November 12, 2007
This is a pretty good overview and introduction, with good illustrations. The field of primitive skills has more advanced techniques that are not covered in this book.
 The two books offer a wealth of information! August 23, 2007
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Loaded with history and skills, these two books are a must for any student of primitive living. Get both books, you wont regret it.
Authenticity, underground, safety, and human education. May 21, 2006
16 out of 16 found this review helpful
This is a collection of selected articles from a desktop-published magazine, and this shows in its irregularity of design, and its tendency to refer to other articles that weren't included in the collection. (Darn!) As is the case with some 'zines, though, this is the Real Deal, the Serious Stuff, these are the People Who Actually Know What They're Talking About. There's a bit of philosophizing throughout, about things like how there is some commonality of background amongst all human beings when you start looking at neolithic skills, and of the importance of human beings knowing how to make fire by rubbing sticks together. (I have to agree; knowing how to make fire is part of what made us human, but how many guys know how to do it nowadays? Can you?) All the instructions are saturated in safety precautions, making sure you know of the dangers and legal problems that you might get yourself into if you take risks with these crafts. (A relieving change of pace, after reading a few countercultural 'zines of the sort that tell how to blow things up, without giving much information about how to put them out again.) They strive for accuracy and authenticity, and respect for the cultures from around the world that they're learning from, as well as interest in innovation based on the concepts they learn. This is even better than I expected! I'm going to have to try a whole bunch of these crafts next time I'm camping. Thanks, guys!
Text Book Style August 29, 2005
15 out of 16 found this review helpful
Written in traditional textbook form, this book covers dwellings to musical instruments. It wasn't exactly what I was looking for in my pursuit of "So if I were in the wilderness with a knife...", but it was still written very well, packed full of fascinating facts. There are detailed descriptions of simple weaponry and bow drilling, but it didn't tell me how to feather the arrows for my hickory bow. I can probably make a really good boomerang and decorate it traditionally; yet somehow if the need were to arise, I would not trust my proficiency with this time-honored hunting tool. There were some neat ideas for stringed darts and such. This book was very educational, and I am glad to have it, even if it wasn't exactly what I expected.
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