I’ve just come back from a course in primitive skills with Lynx Vilden. It was a very special treat. We worked with flint knives, we killed, ate and worked a lamb. Creating and tanning hides, cordage, pouches, broth and bone tools like the ones pictured. We picked plants, shared stories and walked together. It was great!
It feels relevant to share this here as I’ve found these techniques hugely inspirational, people who have taken the time to learn and test these crafts have a great simplicity, honesty and skill. It gives such an insight into the history of technology, our environment and human ability.
You can watch a video about Lynx here. I think it’s in French (I haven’t watched the other videos out there on the internet).
We went into a cave using a lamp made from the fat of this candle. Lynx had found the beautiful carved bowl in the cave.
We used the guts from the lamb to make cordage and tanned the stomach after tanning. It looks grim but was incredibly sensual and hands on. I’m used to discarding these bits so this opened up a whole new world of plastic replacements.
We made flint saws and used them to cut wood and meat. There were as sharp as a razor and seemed best used as a saw.
Flint knives in action.