Book SummaryPrimitive Technology, by John Plant

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Primitive Technology

Primitive Tools

A hammer stone is an essential tool used to shape different types of stones into useful implements.

For the crafting of hammer stones, it is advisable to select a robust stone like quartz and utilize a technique of striking to chip off fragments, resulting in a tool that possesses a keen edge.

Plant emphasizes the fundamental importance of including a stone for hammering purposes in a rudimentary set of tools, citing well-founded justifications for its inclusion. The fabrication of this tool is a crucial initial phase in the journey to develop a range of different stone tools. John Plant recommends using quartz for crafting when available, or alternatively, choosing a stone that is as hard or harder than the material you intend to shape. The size should be comparable to that of a tennis ball or similar to a golf ball. To effectively pulverize sizable stones or to securely anchor stakes into the soil, employing both hands for better manipulation might be required.

John Plant describes two techniques for shaping a hammer stone, which include chipping off pieces and gently tapping it. The knapping technique involves using a harder stone to carefully shape the edges of another stone into a hammering implement. By meticulously chipping away small pieces, one can expose a keener edge. Direct your blows in such a way that the stone is preserved. In contrast, pecking involves carrying out a sequence of slight impacts that create tiny depressions around the stone's edge. The method described leads to a deliberately contoured, though somewhat uneven surface, which can then be further smoothed out by abrasion against a rougher material.

By meticulously breaking apart certain stones like flint or obsidian, one can craft durable implements that serve various cutting purposes.

Stone implements are effective for precise cutting, molding, and serve as instruments for slicing, scraping, and puncturing.

For detailed carving or shaping tasks, Plant recommends using sturdy slivers shaped into tools for incising. The blade serves multiple purposes, including slicing through meat or vegetation, molding wood or hides, and forming apertures. John Plant asserts that when it comes to the creation of stone blades, quartz, flint, or obsidian are the most suitable materials.

Plant advises keeping the residual stone pieces from different projects, including the splinters that result from making your hammer stone, and sharpening them as needed. Acquiring this expertise enables one to craft a variety of blades, each tailored for specific purposes. John Plant suggests that for intricate tasks requiring cutting or shaping, one should refine a long, flat stone until it becomes edged sharply, enabling it to serve as a makeshift saw or a device for evening out surfaces.

The hand axe is utilized for basic woodworking tasks, including the construction of smaller-scale structures.

A robust rock is...

Primitive Technology Summary The subjects of warmth and combustion

One can create fire by constructing simple tools that generate heat through the rubbing together of surfaces.

A baseboard, in conjunction with a rotating spindle, creates enough friction to ignite a cluster of tinder.

Plant notes that numerous methods exist for starting a fire, each essentially relying on the friction and heat produced by spinning a piece of timber against another. Gaining proficiency in this method requires practice. John Plant committed numerous weeks to honing his skills, striving to achieve the reliable outcome of lighting a fire on his first try.

Fabricating the fire sticks can be done with relative ease. A thin stick, usually obtained from the branch of a tree or bush, about 60 centimeters long and nearly one centimeter thick, serves as the spindle for rotation. A solid wooden base, no shorter than 23.5 inches, should be utilized. Use a rock implement to strip away the exterior surfaces of the spindle as well as the baseboard, accelerating their drying process. Carve out a channel on the baseboard where the spindle's tip will fit, ensuring there's a pathway below it to allow hot particles to disperse. The friction between the spindle and the...

Primitive Technology Summary Hunting and Gathering

The bow and arrow serves as an efficient tool for hunting smaller game.

Bows are crafted by bending a sturdy wooden stave and attaching a string, while arrows are completed with tips made from stone or wood that has been hardened.

Plant underscores the necessity of being well-informed about the stringent hunting regulations in Australia before one proceeds to create and use tools designed for pursuing and ensnaring animals. The book explores how to craft archery equipment, assuming local regulations permit such endeavors.

Start by choosing a sturdy yet flexible piece of wood to construct the main body of the bow. A suitable length is approximately 48 inches. Use a hammer and chisel in tandem to split the wood lengthwise into two equal sections, making adjustments for any inconsistencies that arise. Use a hatchet gripped firmly in your hand to carefully reduce and shape the bottom of the stave, making sure it narrows down towards the tips. Fashion notches at each extremity for the bowstring's attachment and meticulously sculpt the central part to function as the grip. To fabricate the bowstring, select strands that are made by splitting the outer fibrous layers of the...

Primitive Technology Summary Apparel and fabric materials

One can utilize different methods to create containers from materials that are flexible.

Utilizing multiple methods such as twining and coiling, one can construct robust containers.

Plant acknowledges the importance of handmade baskets as essential components of a rudimentary set of tools, serving not only to carry a variety of objects including implements and pieces of charcoal but also to transport food and keep things organized. John Plant's book details three distinct techniques for crafting baskets, with the choice of method depending on the available resources and the intended use of the basket.

John Plant often opts for the traditional weaving method to craft adaptable baskets. He has relied on these methods for an extended period to secure and transport his equipment and supplies. Constructed quickly, these structures also offer the possibility of ample space. He recommends choosing materials like pliable reeds, saplings, or vines that are capable of bending without snapping. The basic method used in various basketry styles includes interlacing strands by weaving them over and under one another.

When unable to use cane, Plant adopts an alternative method,...

Primitive Technology Summary Sophisticated Implements

Mounting a stone blade onto a handle in a configuration that forms a right angle results in a versatile implement called an adze.

The adze is a versatile implement, adept at both felling trees and finely shaping woodwork.

The author emphasizes the importance of another essential woodworking instrument, the adze. John Plant explains that crafting adzes is simpler compared to stone Celt axes because there's a lower chance of the handle breaking during their manufacture.

The adze's head is fashioned from a sturdy type of rock, like granite or basalt. Start by sculpting a rudimentary shape and then carefully tap it to smooth the exterior, using a rock to shape the head. Employ a rough stone along with water to hone and polish the edge of the blade. When selecting a wooden segment for the handle, it is recommended to opt for one that naturally creates a perpendicular bend. Stumbling upon a fallen tree with a sprout shooting out from its main trunk at a right angle would prove to be especially beneficial. Fasten the adze head firmly to the apex of the handle by binding it securely.

The Celt Axe's design contributes to its increased sturdiness and efficiency in...

Primitive Technology Summary Primitive Shelters and Structures

Drystone walls are built through the careful stacking and locking together of flat stones without employing any binding mortar.

One can quickly construct sturdy barriers using stones gathered from the surrounding area that haven't been moistened.

The technique of drystone walling, proven durable over centuries, involves meticulously arranging stones in such a manner that their weight and interlocking positions guarantee the structure's stability and endurance without needing mortar or other binding materials. John Plant typically employed a straightforward approach to erect the essential enclosures for his early rudimentary shelters.

He explains that carefully assembling a wall without the use of mortar can result in a structure that withstands the test of time, often needing minimal maintenance to stay preserved for hundreds of years. Inward-sloping walls can result in a dome-shaped configuration for circular huts, eliminating the need for an independent roofing framework. The longevity of a wall constructed without mortar depends on choosing the right stones. The smooth contours of river stones frequently result in them slipping past each other. Select stones that...

Primitive Technology Summary Exploring Ancient Fire-Making Techniques

Constructing mounds specifically for the production of charcoal can yield a significant quantity of this resource.

Charcoal production involves the construction of earthen mounds sealed with a mud coating that prevents air penetration, while strategically placed vents control the burning process.

Charcoal serves as an essential resource for culinary purposes, the production of ceramics via kiln firing, and the extraction of iron through smelting when in a rudimentary environment. John Plant recommends building a robust pile designed for multiple uses when producing charcoal. The construction, shaped like a mound and made of mud, is designed to be stationary. Construct a wood-based pyramid-like structure to create charcoal. By planning ahead for your requirements, you can reduce the time needed to create more charcoal before it's required.

Establish a solid base for the earthen structures by mixing water, soil, sand, and clay to create a cohesive mud blend. Shape the soil into a cylindrical structure with a diameter of approximately 2.5 feet and a minimum height of 1.6 feet. Create eight evenly spaced holes with a sharp stick along the edge at the base before the clay...