Making a Neolithic Thorn Flax Hackle

[@jsmxwll]

A quick thought. If you dried the thorns by a fire until they were bone dry, and your paddle was moist, either green wood or soaked in water before you drill the holes, the thorns would almost never come out. they would absorb water from the wood and expand while the wood would lose moisture and contract. This has been used for ages to make furniture out of green wood. Some elements would be dried while others green so they equalize and strengthen the joints. a couple drops of beeswax on the back of each thorn bundle would also help hold everything together. not sure if that sort of thing has a lot of historical precedent, but it seem intuitive to me.

[@letiziavottero262]

that fact that you can get such good fiber from plants using more plant material is just incredible

[@barbaradaly4930]

This type of experiment brings ancient people to life. It’s wonderful!

[@suethompson8538]

I have so enjoyed this series, I am sad it’s come to an end. It’s been a masterclass and so clearly presented that I am confident I can recreate these tools, given time. Thank you.

[@Just_Sara]

I'm sad it's over too, I love this stuff!

[@Wildevis]

"Lovely lethal thorns" lol. That is an awesome, useful tool and nicely done! It was very satisfying to watch

[@robyn3349]

Thank you! I am learning to not take textiles for granted!

[@JHaven-lg7lj]

I’ve had the pleasure of explaining how much labor producing textiles used to take to a group of 11-year old students. I only covered the sewing part at first - every stitch on every piece of clothing done by hand - and they were so fascinated that I also told them briefly about spinning and weaving. They were a delight :)

[@ladyofthemasque]

The sounds of the flax being drawn through the thorns of the hackle is actually kind of ASMR. It's auditorially interesting, yet soothing at the same time!

[@SupremeDirt]

i just want to say i really appreciate you sharing your MSc work on here, it's incredibly fascinating to see as someone who does a lot of fabric work.

[@cadileigh9948]

Brilliant and inspirational. If our ancestors could create such clever tools we can create tools and behavior to sort climate change

[@TheRealPandanimal]

We just need our leaders and people to understand that such things are necessary.

[@susanshelit]

Prepare for an ice age.

[@glemsydoodles]

Finally, twenty years after reading books describing people as "flax-haired" and "tow-headed", I can see what they meant! Thank you so much for posting, I really enjoy your videos.

[@SMTRodent]

Taking my time during the woodworking to comment that this is brilliant! I love ancient technology, and the way things change but sort of don't as we get to today.

[@mirandarensberger6919]

This seems like it could be a relaxing activity. I can imagine the Neolithic people sitting around the common area of their village, hackling their flax and having a nice chat.

[@TheMurlocKeeper]

There's a reason why "stitch and bitch" is a common term among those that like to recreate history (medievalists, mainly, lol!) The women all have their gathering days (usually a monthly event) to sit around and either collectively work on something, or simply just go for the company while they work on their own project. It can get pretty damn mind-numbing just sitting by yourself doing it sometimes. :P Thus..."stitch and bitch" sessions were created. :D

[@mirandarensberger6919]

@@TheMurlocKeeper I think all stitchers use the term, really. Although in this case, maybe it would be a "hackle and heckle"!

[@munchkin5674]

I am currently making cordage out of Spanish Dagger leaf fibers, because I don’t have access to the wider, but thinner yucca leaves. To process the leaves, I pound a leaf on a flat wood surface using a wide headed hammer. After carefully pounded each side of a leave to break up the pulp, I place the leave in a bucket of water to soak for 5-10 minutes. Then I lay the leaf on a cutting board and using a spoon, I scrape the pulp off of each side working from the wider end of the leaf towards the sharp pointed end. Then I cut the sharp tip off the leaf fibers 3”-5” back from the tip. The soaking has made a big difference in processing thicker leaves. To process narrower, thicker leaves yucca type leaves, I used two river stones; a larger, flat stone for the anvil, and a smaller, nice shaped stone for the hammer. It works well for these smaller leaves, but you need to keep the anvil stone stable so that it doesn’t walk. I have not tried using a regular hammer to pound these thinner leaves, but may soon for the experience. I am quite new to this cordage making. It is a learning process to discover what works best for each fibrous plant fiber you want to process to make cordage. Spanish Dagger is a succulent and has thicker, stronger fibers. Making sure to remove all of the pulp, especially on the last 1-2 inches is important so fibers on the ends aren’t bound together. They don’t twist well and can cause too much thickness. Adding in more fibers to the twisting process is also something to master to keep the cordage all the same thickness, or, at least, reasonably close. I would like to try brushing these Spanish Dagger fibers after pulling the fibers apart, but I think those fibers need to be a pulp free as possible. It might be a good idea to soak them again before brushing them. That said, I’m not sure what kind of brush to use. I read a comment that a a brush for animal fur might work well. 🤷‍♀️

[@Ravencall]

This series of textile tools has been fascinating and, as a spinner and textile person, so relatable! My one little thought upon seeing the longer thorns: one of those will be the one that will stab me when I make a careless hand move !

[@dawsie]

What is so surprising is that some cultures had all of this and could weave fabric so fine that our modern machines and equipment are not even able to produce the same quality today. They have fabrics that were so smooth and strong that when the thread count was done it boggles the mind that the equipment they used then was able to produce such a fine piece of cloth, and yet with all of out modern advances we can not produce that very cloth on todays machines.

[@ragnkja]

Today’s industries are very much focused on producing _good enough_ as cheaply as possible, rather than spending extra to make the best quality possible.

[@Riste.R]

It is a mark of a professional to acknowledge where their field of expertise begins and where it ends. With what you had you made a good wood work 😅 Ancient textile work is amazing to revive as alternative to modern industry. And of course handcraft is relaxing as well. Thank you!

[@yrtott]

Honestly, It makes totalt sense that people waaaaay back in the days did what you just did, out of necessity. Don't matter if it was 10 years ago or 100.000 years ago, we all had siblings or kids breaking things and you'd have to repair or make something again... or you broke it youself :P

[@odetbeauvoisin]

Thank you for posting such kindly presented, inspiring videos.

[@SallyPointer]

Thank you so much for your support!

[@markirish7599]

Beautiful hedgemanship ❤️. Best wishes from Ireland 🇮🇪 to you and your family and subscriber's

[@lisascenic]

Thank you so much for inviting us along on your investigations!

[@KimGibsonfiberlover]

This is a terrific series, Sally, you are a natural teacher as well as a wonderful researchist. Thank you for sharing your work. Now I need to start my own set of tools!

[@su.mioiyu-5008]

Wonderful! Thank you so much. Did not know it to be so easy to make. My first time trying to grow some flax this year. Love early technologies to look back as a way for to continue in the future. This is so interesting.

[@BonnibelLecter]

This was a lovely series to watch, and you presented it with a lot of contagious enjoyment.

[@partyfiesta1557]

Congrats on your thesis! It’s a wonderful series you made 🎉

[@skybluskyblueify]

I just realized why I was called a towhead as a child. I had no idea why it was a word to describe my hair/head and only thought of a big toe being a similar shape as a child's head. Cool! I never watched a video about this subject and am happy to watch more.

[@ingeleonora-denouden6222]

thank you for sharing Sally!

[@johannabarkwith3703]

Now I can see why people were described as flaxen haired. It makes so much more sense now!

[@Capitan_Papen1918]

I love your channel, you do a lot of textile videos by the harvesting to the production with so much tips and precision. I never found anyone showing the process like you. Thank you so much

[@jillatherton4660]

Beautifully wonky, TY Sally. 👍

[@wendymoyer782]

This has been fascinating! Of course, one always hears/reads about flax being turned into fabric; but to see the process as it might have been done so long ago...I am enthralled!

[@Hippiechick11]

I love how our pins are still made to look like thorns.

[@oakstrong1]

I have really enjoyed these videos, please don't tell me this is the last one!

[@rhiannonjohnson8295]

Wow Sally it really works. I now have to find a good blackthorn to strip.

[@bigDbigDbigD]

Always look forward to your next posting Sally.

[@ilonawiese4890]

Sally, every of your videos light up my life. You are fantastic.❤

[@debbiecurtis4021]

I planted Japanese dog roses and hawthorn in my garden to make an edible hedge for foraging rose hips and hawthorn berries.

[@gr8fng]

Even though I live in Australia & don't have access to your hedgerows I've really enjoyed this series thank you.

[@verucabeckwith3014]

Hi, Sally! Thank you for sharing your resources with us. ❤

[@MonicaLea]

I love this series! I'm a spinner so it is amazing to see that the tools I use aren't all that different from what my long removed ancestors used.

[@sunriseeyes0]

This is such a cool tool! And it is easy to fix if any of the thorns fall out or break off! That is super neat! Thank you for sharing your experiments with us! 💗🙏🏽

[@Deipnosophist_the_Gastronomer]

Looks like a perfect tool for grooming my neolithic wolf pup.

[@alangknowles]

Did you try drawing the thorn hackle over flax by holding the handle? Perhaps tying the flax up on a board. (Rather than the flax over the hackle.)

[@alaabukhari6506]

I believe all of this work is pretty good for your brain too! I love your work. From Saudi Arabia 🩷

[@d4r4butler74]

Thank You so much for this fascinating series.

[@crowznest438]

That's a beautiful tool you made there.

[@TheProblem2025]

These are so cool! what even 🥺

[@EWats-gz6mk]

I’m happy to see you making videos again!

[@timontherocks7521]

Drilling smaller holes with one thorn each and using carefully selected thorn lengths might allow to oppose two cards. 👍😊

[@nikolaimeriadoc696]

i've been loving this series so much ! as a spinner who is fascinated with prehistoric textiles (and neolithic textiles in particular, although i do love processing wool so much that i rarely have time for flax experiments) this has been packed with information and very cool to see demonstrated. thank you so much for filming this stuff so we can learn too--you've added so much to the collective pool of Prehistoric Textile Production Knowledge. Tipping you a few coffees (I myself may have had... a few too many today), looking forward to whatever you film next :D

[@SallyPointer]

Thank you so much!

[@wayfarersoutdoors]

I've loved watching this series.

[@Elianaalfonso7703]

Thank you for sharing Sally. I adore your videos!

[@WhisperWolfe]

This is such excellent research material for me as a writer. I cannot thank you enough for putting this together.

[@pogostix6097]

I love all the interesting textile vocabulary I've been learning from you. Hackle. Scutched. Retting. Fun words to try in my next Scrabble game! I can't imagine I'd be too fussy about what species of thorn I'd use, if I were a neolithic person. I reckon one pointy twig is about as equal as the other in terms of hackling. I definitely would've stabbed myself somehow though, mandatory blood sacrifice to the textile gods lol. It's the reason I keep bandaids in the sewing box.

[@Just_Sara]

I bet that in a pinch they could have sharpened a few twigs too.

[@bunhelsingslegacy3549]

Blood sacrifice to the textile gods, I feel that in my fingers... bandaids in the sewing kit is a good idea but yesterday's blood sacrifice was actually drawn by the trunk I keep my fabrics in... it's just not a finished product till I've bled. Unless it's crocheting, if I bleed on my crocheting I've done something REALLY wrong.

[@pogostix6097]

@@bunhelsingslegacy3549 It's not a true crochet/knit project until you've had to unravel most of it at least twice.

[@debbiecurtis4021]

I know a foraging spot in Aldridge near Walsall, near the canal Marina, where there's loads of sloe hedges with thorns.

[@davideddy2672]

Truly brilliant - so glad to have found you 👍

[@suzanneschulte4539]

Thank you so much for this series, I have enjoyed it so much. I can't wait to see what you share with us next.

[@TheAshesvondust]

I really liked the point you made about it being easy to pop in a replacement thorn. I've always thought, with how much material would need to be processed to keep people kitted out, that they couldn't afford to be precious with their tools, even though they may have taken a lot of work to make. I think this tool demonstrates beautifully the balance between time-consuming tool-making for time-consuming tool-using!

[@kenleergierig5156]

What a joy 😃 Thank you

[@SporeMurph]

Brilliant. I always learn something completely new watching your videos! You are unique!

[@PerinStar]

When I tell you I dropped what I was doing when your video crossed my feed. I've been loving this series very much and geeking out on my roommate about all the lovely research. I had a thought as you were working with the paddle and flax that maybe they tucked the handle between their knees to have both hands free? Random theory and may not be feasible. But I have enjoyed all of your well thought out, researched, and well presented videos.

[@raraavis7782]

I'm quite fascinated, by how vicious these thorns look 👀 I looked it up and apparently we have Hawthorne (or closely related species) in Germany - but I can't say, I have ever actively noticed one. Gotta keep my eyes open on my next hike. Making a brush from them is quite ingenious, though. The things, people came up with...

[@Worldbuilder]

Hawthorn are easiest to find in late spring when they blossom white and with a lovely fragrance. :)

[@TheMurlocKeeper]

Doesn't have to be blackthorn or hawthorns! I have seen some pretty nasty bush lemon tree thorns as well...many as long as these things, no joke! They're vicious! Literally any thorns will do, as long as they are of a woody structure, and have a bit of length to them. You could probably easily get away with half the length of those thorns, or less. It'd still work. Good luck in your search and wild harvesting! :D

[@kaygee301]

Your channel is absolutely the best on YT. Really great info we know we can trust ❤

[@keebly6107]

Loved this series!

[@carolgarner5971]

I am totally enjoying the showing of the tool. I love learning new stuff

[@margaritagerman]

I so enjoyed watching your contagious enthusiasm creating and working with these tools. I wish you much joy and satisfaction as you work towards your degree.

[@toniomalley5661]

I am so loving this but waiting for the book as well thank you for all of this it’s amazing and so much fun to learn from a great teacher

[@kareno8634]

_passing thought:_ Whenever One, these days, Eyes a Plant for its features, Years ago One did too, and put it to work. Hawthorn looks different than here in states, leaves & larger thorns, better check those Birds planted. Still have Chickasaw Plum that should \ May work in many ways. All looks Great, *Thanks so much!* You ARE a 'Master'. : }

[@mythlover20]

I would love to see a video about those modern applications of the thorn brushes. That sounds absolutely fascinating!

[@KarlFFF]

Thank you very much for all your videos. I really enjoy the calm format driven by experiments, curiosity, and research.

[@francisfischer7620]

Oh goodness! We have loads of nettle on our land! Time to do something useful with it!

[@mackleblapppy4880]

I am soo happy I found your channel. What you do is awesome, thank you for making these videos and sharing. Aboslutly fascinating

[@Scodiddly]

As an amateur woodworker myself, I certainly admire your bravery 😊. Love the textile work, neat stuff I hadn’t seen before.

[@ygorgallina2691]

Thank you so much for all your videos, for sharing your research and your experiments !!! You make everything seem feasible ! Can't wait to make a comb with thorns and of course a nettle cordage :)

[@bigsister9354]

In the video from Russian open air museum on Kizhi island I have seen how after combing, flax fiber is treated with a dried moss hammock. People was so creative with such simple tools and techniques!

[@Gumbatron01]

If the holes were drilled with flint, that would likely have resulted in a somewhat conical hole (possibly conical on both sides). That might have actually been beneficial as, if the angle of the hole was correct, it would allow the thorns to be wedged into position quite securely. Would they have just used a hand held flint drill, or something more sophisticated like a bow drill or pump drill? Fascinating stuff.

[@lain5900]

This is so fun! I really enjoy your videos, thank you for sharing your learning journey with us! Makes me want to try! 😃

[@suehogan901]

Wondering about a mini adze rather than a chisel situation for the lovely thorn brush. An adze is lovely to use…

[@SallyPointer]

Funnily enough I was talking to others at the European StoneAge Gathering about this and am adze was their suggestion too. I'll try it next time

[@luciaborra3993]

Thank you Sally, I was just looking how to make a kaardbord. En there you are!! 💚🌿😘

[@paulinemegson8519]

Given that you’re not trying to use period accurate tools I think I’d have used a Dremel with a sanding drum to take down the surface of the paddle(assuming you have one and assuming that it isn’t a step too far for you regarding tool authenticity. It’d just be a fair bit easier tho probably no faster lol). This is very cool and shows again how strongly function follows form…..any weaver or spinner who handles fibre for working into usable thread can immediately tell what these tools are for, and how to use them….because fibre hasn’t changed, what we need it to do hasn’t changed, and the best and easiest way to achieve this is still to use tools like these. What has changed is the materials used to create those tools. These videos have been just wonderful..btw re: the thorns coming out, have you considered covering the back with pine resin? This “would” mean that you lose the ease of replacing them when they drop, but would probably mean you don’t lose them as often. If it’s a bit sticky, you could probably put a backboard on…..yes this is me, the overcomplicating over thinker lol

[@HighWealder]

I just thought of Teasels, growing wild, traditional and ready made .

[@SallyPointer]

Most teasels aren't strong enough for use on fibre though, I'm not sure when the Fuller's teasel, with it's stronger hooked spines is developed, but it's a fair bit later. I do have a video that compares wild and cultivated teasels if you'd find that interesting

[@kathrynbassett1535]

Fantastic video so inspiring I plan to try growing my own flax and will try these methods for preparation. Again thank you for another great video take care Katy from NZ

[@mojow9841]

Thank you-- this series has been fascinating. These tools do the job they were designed for well and must have improved daily life for the folk who invented and used them.

[@debbiecurtis4021]

You could use mineral oil from THE CORNISH CHOPPING BOARD COMPANY. I use this oil to coat eggs to preserve them for up to 9 months.

[@SallyPointer]

Is that particularly Neolithic compared to linseed?

[@Beryllahawk]

Wonderful series! Kinda sad to see it end, really. Thank you so very much for sharing this! It's amazing to me how people got by without all our modern gadgetry and conveniences. It's even more amazing to contemplate how on EARTH anyone ever thought of this, and yet as I've watched so many of your videos, it makes great sense. It becomes plain that while one CAN process plant material with nothing but your hands, the work gets much easier, and faster, when you have tools to help out, AND with something like this hackle your overall capacity would be a whole lot greater in every session! And us humans are lazy, really, we WANT to get the necessary work done with the least effort possible, haha! I did wonder, watching this video, if at any point this was a task done in a cooperative way? Would having someone to help hold onto the hackle (or manage the fiber bundles) make the work go quicker or anything? Or would another pair of hands just get in the way? The one other thing I've seen with flax going through a hackle was fairly modern, the hackle affixed to a very sturdy frame and it was of course made of metal (my memory says, the "thorns" were nails, but that might not be accurate). But it seemed like having the board on your lap might not be stable from time to time? This is the kind of question that makes my brain really happy, to just chew on the ideas and imagine what it might have been like. Once more, great video, wonderful series!!! Looking forward to seeing what else you get up to!

[@johnbelcher7955]

Amazing! I did wonder if the paddle was soaked in water with the thorns in place, make the wood swell and pinch the thorns and secure them. (would this make the paddle split with wetting and drying, yours has been oiled so may not work to find out now)

[@Jill4Today]

Congratulations! It's been an amazing series.

[@renatamcstay]

Not sure why but your video sound is not coming through on my end. Still a grand practical video thank you! Captions were able to be automatically generated. Love the uses of nature!

[@123uschie]

Thank you ,this was so interesting.

[@DipityS]

It doesn't look like a hedgehog at all - I'm fascinated at how very modern the tool appears - and how well it works. Just seeing the flax and how well it processes into possible thread is fascinating all in itself. I wonder if perhaps countries which relied on hide as clothing maybe didn't have flax like plants? This is all so interesting - thank you.

[@juliajs1752]

Every time a new video comes out, I get the urge to tackle flax again. It's the one fiber that has thwarted me so far. One day! Would you mind giving us the source of your 1kg of flax? It is gorgeous.

[@SallyPointer]

Flaxland in the UK

[@GrizzlyGroundswell]

Excellent. Did you try using it as a hair brush? I bet it could be dangerous but I bet it would work! Hey great work and I pray your degree comes fast and you can do more of these! Quite inspiring.

[@jwolfe1209]

I was just thinking about how many of the tools I use as a pet groomer are really repurpused fiber processing tools- slicker brushes, coat rakes probably even stripping knives

[@GrizzlyGroundswell]

@@jwolfe1209 Great insight!

[@TheMurlocKeeper]

I think that would cause more problems than it would solve, lol! This is why boar bristle was used instead for hair brushing. Much gentler, made of the same stuff (keratin), and a lot better at gently polishing the hair too. :)

[@HighWealder]

Great. I suspect that a piece of wood was cleft to the right thickness and an axe used to form the handle shape. A piece of stone could scrape it smooth.

[@MoniqueAO888]

Thank you for sharing another interesting video !!!

[@penniecormier8770]

This has been very enlightening! Thanks for sharing all this with us!

[@davidcoates5732]

I made your previous thorn tool, which is great for bramble and yucca cordage. Great series, hope there is more to come.

[@xanderrijkee5094]

Your videos are always informative, inspiring and a pleasure to watch... can't you convince some broadcasty person to let you make a big stone age / bronze age textile and clothing documentary series?

[@backuppixiedust1115]

Neat! I wanted to try something like this, and I’ve got a large Hawthorn tree in my backyard!

[@JeanneLugertLadyTatsLace]

Thankyou for the series, I am interested in how things were done by the peoples before.

[@cnawan]

Love your work, thanks for sharing :) What a clever little piece of technology - thanks ancestors

[@debbiej.2168]

What a neat area to get your masters in. Good luck with it. I hope you pass with flying colors!