Making a Neolithic Netting Shuttle from Antler, and using it with Nettle Cordage.

[@markedis5902]

21:10 I’m more than happy to just listen to you speak about the Neolithic and would be happy to watch hour or more long videos. I love learning about old techniques.

[@historybuff7491]

I love the phrase: primitive does not mean stupid. Neolithic people were intellegent and problem solvers wtih some elegent solutions, like the netting shuttle you made. I especially like how you can make the cordage as you go.

[@SallyPointer]

That's one reason why you will never hear me use the word primitive in any of my videos!

[@ingeleonora-denouden6222]

To me the word 'primitive' is related to premier/ première (French), meaning: the first, the start of something. So 'primitive people' were the first people to start with something (a new way, a new technique). They are the inventors, the designers. Nothing to do with 'stupid'...

[@ragnkja]

⁠​⁠@@ingeleonora-denouden6222 Yup, “primitive” comes from Old French _primitif_ meaning “very first, original”, which in turn comes from the Latin _primitivus_ "first or earliest of its kind," from _primitus_ "at first," from _primus_ "first”.

[@Hippiechick11]

They had to be intelligent to design usable tools. They certainly were not stupid!

[@andrewsackville-west1609]

I love this interpretation of "primitive". It makes me happy.

[@ArtemensiaK]

I saw "Sally pointer uploaded..." and was jumping up and down in my chair. Love it! Now I watch it.

[@GrainneDhub-ll6vw]

I suddenly realised how often I look at things from a mass production point of view without realising it. Why not make cordage as you go rather than first making enough estimated cordage before beginning the project? I love those moments that jar me out of my 21st century viewpoint into seeing the world through a very different set of assumptions. Thank you so much.

[@ThisSmallGnome]

"There is no string police." Loved this. I was so excited when I saw you had posted a new video and you did not disappoint! Also, im incredibly jealous of your antler collection.

[@wiwaffles660]

Sally has a way of phrasing things that is just perfect. She is such a great teacher.

[@Max-ek4dn]

Everytime i try and learn something about some prehistoric technology, i sooner or later always end up on your channel. Thank you so much for posting all these, its so nice to have the ability to look something up that interests you and getting answers, thx for providing tgem

[@Worldbuilder]

The needle is probably also a lot easier to make using neolithic tools and antler than the “modern” style, and the modern style also requires you to have made large quantities of fine cord before beginning; this one does much more lend itself to being easily mobile and functional when making cordage as you go along. I imagine this would have been a thing one could have easily occupied oneself with around the fire in the evening, as it doesn’t rely very much on sight.

[@IslandHermit]

I've found that it pays to get the fibers as clean as possible, even when making rope. Leftover chaff tends to act as grit which wears down the fibers faster.

[@Hippiechick11]

For some reason I remember in my archeology class when we realized that the original plows were scapulas and plows are still shaped this way and so many current tools are still based in antiquity.

[@Shahrezad1]

HOLY COW! THAT'S SO COOL! My husband and I just compared the two images and you're totally right!

[@Hippiechick11]

@@Shahrezad1 we had a great teacher for that class.

[@hellfirepictures]

That is so cool. I'm not from a farming community so have never really paid that much attention to ploughs but even from the few I've seen I know that's probably true.

[@ingeleonora-denouden6222]

Somewhere in your video it suddenly occured to me: of course! There's not need to make a 'shuttle' where a lot of yarn (twine, cordage, string, whatever) can be wound on. You're making cordage as you go!

[@SallyPointer]

Exactly! Just a way to speed up the handling of an arms length or two of cordage

[@szbyzan]

Thank you for this video. I did have a laugh when you said 'in the usual way.'. So many recipe books will be telling you what to put in and then say 'in the usual way' or 'in the usual manner' ... And since we are reading history and don't know what the usual manner was back then. We get left with big vague splotches and they didn't leave us videos to show the usual mundane manner they are too bored of to write down.

[@SallyPointer]

Very true. I suppose I meant 'in the way I usually demonstrate' or 'the manner that is usual to you'.

[@ragnkja]

At least in this case she referred us to her older videos where she demonstrates the technique in detail.

[@Rouverius]

The material used seems to me to give clues about the design of the first needles that were then refined to the one you replicated. Maybe originally they were made from thin antler with the marrow removed. Then, the front and back could be cut away to expose the eye of the needle. Anyway, thanks for another charming and educational video!

[@Addicted2Yarn1]

Ever since I read Clan of the Cave Bears a a young teenager and then, over the years following, the rest of the Earth's Children series I've been obsessed with tools and functional items grim that time. It really interests me and I love your videos Sally. I would love to see you uploading more often as you always make everything so easy to understand and extremely interesting!

[@threeriversforge1997]

I got to study with the guy who was the primitive skills instructor for Jean Aeul. Very interesting fellow. As I like to tell folks, until you've tried tanning a hide or making anything, really, you just cannot appreciate what our ancestors had to go through to get us here. I used to be really big into primitive tech, and still enjoy it at a smaller scale. Lots of hides tanned, tools made, and generally a good time had. But I'm so very happy to have been born now rather than then!!

[@resourcedragon]

@@threeriversforge1997: I am receiving treatment for cancer, I've completed the intense phase of the treatment and am now having immunotherapy monthly for a year. The doctors expect to cure me. Even ten years ago I doubt that they would have been able to give me a treatment from which they would have expected a cure. On the way to being cured I've benefitted from modern anaesthesia and antibiotics. [The chemotherapy is still fairly brutal and I needed an "antidote" before I could be given one of the drugs. Oh, and I need the "antidote" for the contrast used in some of the scans I get.] So I am glad I am not living in prehistory, when I would not have had access to anything remotely like this treatment. I also love our modern access to information - although there are problems with misinformation and disinformation getting out as well as actual information.

[@robertc1024]

Holy Cow! I just found your channel while trying to make soap. Beyond that - fascinating!

[@yetanotherentity]

This is brilliant! Great to see you in 2024! So crazy story, but about 30 years ago, i found a bone bird that was in exactly this shape and size. It was for sale in a thrift shop in California. Someone had drilled (very obviously more recent than the rest of the carving which was so old i decided immediately i had to own it) a tiny hole through the bottom of the loop part (its wings), and plonked it on a metal wire stuck in a stand. The result was it had a stand and appeared to be flying, sort of. I always wondered what it had originally been, and why it had such an unusual shape... and who saw a goose or swan in that shape and decided to etch it into the bone. I'll never know who, but now i know (eead: suspect without verification) that it was an ancient netting shuttle!!

[@sunriseeyes0]

Your videos always bring me so much joy and inspiration. Thank you for sharing your experiments with us. I love the slow, intentional tool and fiber making 🧶🙏🏽💗

[@alicetulloch6945]

Lovely, Sally. I love how you’ve found something old that’s seen nowhere else. So handy. Hi to Linda and Raven too.

[@rhiannonjohnson8295]

Hadn’t seen that sort of needle before but for make as you go cordage it makes a lot of sense. Nice one Sally.

[@sandraanderson217]

I think I’m going to have to try making and using this tool. It looks easier to use than the other shuttles and skips a step or two. Making the cordage as needed and not having to fill the shuttle is appealing to me ❤

[@jennifergamble3272]

Someone should pay you to do a domentary series.

[@goopygonch]

i would love if you made longform videos about your archeological viewpoints! it is endlessly fascinating to hear what you have to say about the past. this was a very enlightening video

[@poetessaloud9385]

I love everything you are able to create.i have been inspired to make myself a set of net making tools.thankyou so much sally.i wish you well.

[@AnimeShinigami13]

I'm experimenting on making some of these tools from your videos with polymer clay. Made both kinds of netting shuttle, a naalbinding needle, an oversized button, guage stick, and a ropemaking tool I saw on someone else's channel. Now they just have to be baked in the oven.

[@bekkipickett]

This almost reminds me of a tatting shuttle. Very cool.

[@andrewsackville-west1609]

Im so thrilled you're posting again. You are truly one of my favorites. Cool video. I'll be curious to see how this needle is made using period appropriate tools. Especially so,.for the hole! When I first saw the shape, i assumed the hole was the natural spongy pith of the antler, and that it qas made from just the very tip of the antler so that hard antler material makes a natural tube shape.

[@SallyPointer]

The hole won't be hard to do with a flint drill point, especially on soaked antler

[@andrewsackville-west1609]

@@SallyPointer makes sense. thanks

[@maggietaylor9713]

Amazing, inspiring, informative.... I could go on and on. Thankyou for sharing all your interests and skills. ❤

[@johnsullivan6560]

As always, so educational! So entertaining as well. Thank you!😊

[@christineg8151]

I wonder if the areas where you see the weird knots that you theorized might be related to stiff cordage have a particular plant that they're more likely to use as cordage that tends to be stiffer than cordage obtained from plants more common in other regions. Wonderful video! The needle/shuttle is a really beautiful functional piece, and it looks like it would be a pleasure to use.

[@ladylocust1118]

This was intriguing. It’s similar to a tatting shuttle.

[@paulwomack5866]

Caveats; I have neither made a net nor worked antler. Looking at that shuttle shape, it strikes me that the little "belly with the hole through it" would emerge naturally if the shuttle was made from antler with a diameter that matched the diameter of the shuttle at that point. The soft core that antler has would either make the hole for you, or render making it easier.

[@CaptainCarrotzz]

Welcome back Sally! Love your videos. Practical archaeology fascinates me to no end.

[@talkingcrow]

I just found you!!!! I love this! I’ve been wanting to make nalbinding needles and this was the push I needed. ❤

[@TheBottegaChannel]

Nope, this style of shuttle is going into my " Knotworker's Ditty Bag of Tricks" where I keep my knotwork bbn g and cord making tools. It's perfect for making hitches to cover ceramic and glass bottles for transport.

[@threeriversforge1997]

Well, it'd certainly be fitting considering that this was the very beginning of Marlinspike Seamanship!

[@judithparsons1920]

I love this. Thank you for your wisdom!

[@witchways]

I always love seeing your videos.

[@BonLee-jh5pk]

A much different knot that how I was taught for making fishing nets. I was taught a knot that moves so that when the fish swims into into the net, it actually tightens around it. Wish I had a way to show you. I learned it from a tribal elder who hunted salmon. I've used it extensively for fishing, foraging, etc.

[@SallyPointer]

I'd love to see that

[@BonLee-jh5pk]

@@SallyPointer It'd much like the nalbinding single loop thing you demo here. Saw this vid first. I use the same stitch when I'm making dreamcatchers in the traditional style.

[@nom_b]

Great video thanks. Antler stash lol. not something Im likely to find in my part of australia. Although now that I think of it, I may have seen some in second hand shops 😃

[@roberthill9011]

Hi thank you for sharing 😊

[@Liam_Nielsen]

Great as always. Thank you

[@Meredith36]

This was really cool. I’m glad you popped up on my feed

[@MoniqueAO888]

Wonderful and informative video as usual... ...and I am really happy to hear from you again - Happy New Year !!! 🙂

[@vihiway]

bones are a lot smaller and probably easier to work with than antler - in our "primitive" tradition there were some particular bones used for women's tools.....dremmels and a saw blade are always wonderful supports...

[@SallyPointer]

Not sure you'd get the thickness in the middle with most smaller bones, but let me know if you try it, would be interesting to compare

[@BloosSelfReliance]

Very cool... i have a bit of bone floating about I may just have to give this one a go :)

[@impunitythebagpuss]

Liked and subbed from Newfoundland!

[@RedDoesThread]

This might be a silly thought, but the shape and size of this almost makes me wonder if a chicken leg bone could be shaped to this and used similarly enough to antler without the hole drilling

[@SallyPointer]

Try it and see! Bird bones are used extensively in the past and domesticated bird bone can be an accessible resource today

[@RedDoesThread]

After a couple of tries I've gotten some versions with very springy ends that otherwise work pretty well, if a bit ugly looking. I think a slightly larger bird like a turkey or a goose might have the bone thickness I need. Otherwise, it certainly does save a bit of work on hole drilling

[@armuver1]

Love your videos,so good to make your own tools,very inspiring, thank you.

[@najroe]

I have seen similar things used for mending nets by old folks, they wound the line in figure 8 over the needle

[@andrewsackville-west1609]

Figure 8 wind would help with the twist that you can see when she pulls fresh cordage off the needle.

[@markbrandli]

Thank you for another wonderful video , I will be trying this technique.

[@Sarah.p.Stewart8654]

This is so interesting. I got one of the books you mentioned in an earlier video and am quite enjoying it 👍🏽

[@fjolliff6308]

I find that a bone folder makes a great gauge. If you can use it to tie the threads in your book then why not netting? If you drill a hole at the blunt end, it will look a lot like this gauge too.

[@Apostate_ofmind]

of course it would last a shorter amount of time, but would one made of wood also be ok? Although i imagine we wouldnt have that kind of relics to know if they also used wood, but it does make sense if they did.

[@SallyPointer]

I'm sure that for every object made of bone or antler there were many equivalents in wood, but preservation is often trickier with wood. No reason not to use wood if you want to try this out

[@Apostate_ofmind]

@@SallyPointer Will do! Thank you so much.

[@aaronrhoades509]

So you soak your antler in water when I've got to make changes to my bone/antlers/horn/hoof I end up boiling it?? to correct a shape or force it into a shape it was not in when I started?? I love your videos I wish you put more out I get excited when I see you've added a video always watch it always liked it❤ I live in Texas maybe someday I'll make it to your part of the world to see one of the workshops

[@SallyPointer]

I just dip antler in water when scraping it to shape, but a cold water soak will soften it right up for more dramatic alterations over a few days.

[@katherinel8661]

Would flax work for this? I have a ton of flax that I've been spinning and cording.

[@SallyPointer]

Absolutely! Flax is a joy to make cordage with and often what I use when teaching.

[@Sheepdog1314]

maybe the thick end was used as a tip, and the thin end to wrap more material around?

[@SallyPointer]

Yes, that works, but I did find that wound cord dropped off the thin end if I always led with the thicker part

[@MsAnpassad]

I'm no archeologist, but to me, that looks far more like a splicing needle than a shuttle. Did they splice rope back then?

[@SallyPointer]

It would be interesting to try it for splicing, my gut feeling is the lumpy bit at the eye would get in the way, but it's always worth trying different possibilities. Great idea!

[@rachelstrahan2486]

👍

[@totorotroll]

Thank you so much for this. Would you mind telling me what kind of Dremel you use and would recommend purchasing, please?

[@SallyPointer]

Oh, not sure, mine has a pendant drill attachment for easy working, that's very useful

[@markedis5902]

Hi Sally, Where did you get your antler? It seems really expensive on fleabay and Etsy. Thanks Mark

[@SallyPointer]

I pick bits up whenever I can, but yes, the recent trend for antler dog chews has put the price up wildly.

[@KezzDaddy]

Try to get in contact with some local hunters if your area has deer. They are usually happy to give bones, antlers and offal cheap or free.

[@timbeaumont3584]

@@SallyPointer i love the idea of people looking at an extremely fun, beautiful and versatile material and thinking 'what a great thing to feed to my dog' .

[@ellaisplotting]

@@timbeaumont3584 I had the same response, what a waste!

[@hellfirepictures]

@@timbeaumont3584 Dogs would eat it naturally in the wild so I fail to understand why you seem to think they shouldn't nowadays just because you like the look of it. I like the look of chickens - I wouldn't think a dog - or human - shouldn't eat one just because it looks beautiful and can be fun...

[@lukeblackford1677]

I copied your wooden shuttle and tried making a net bag but it’s wonky because I made so many lazy knots.

[@SallyPointer]

The next one will be better, practice helps!

[@Grace-ms7un]

Dearest sally, My youtube is malfunctioning and everytime it loads, it is stuck on your video and im not even mad nor do i think it needs fixing.

[@jillatherton4660]

😄👍

[@burningdiamond]

tell me you don't have a dag without telling me you don't have a dog! *put a basket of antkers on the floor*

[@hobbyhermit66]

And I thought I was doing good making my shuttles from paint sticks and tongue depressers. I see now I was cheating.

[@SallyPointer]

Using the resources you have available is never cheating

[@metamud8686]

So, how is the woodash lye project going? It's been 9 months... :)

[@ellaisplotting]

I'm strangely invested in that soap 😅

[@SallyPointer]

Soon! Life got in the way