Cleaning Trout with Blade Flake

[joshuaream]

Originally Posted by paleo_joe

This is a Ma'taa from Easter Island. They were basically sharp pieces of obsidian hafted onto spears and used in the caves for slashing each other. It is about 3" x 3".

Nice piece, those aren't easy to get. I had a frame I bought in Chile (the country that owns Easter island) that had several nice examples, but a friend really wanted them so I sold them thinking I could get more... I've probably made 10 business trips to Chile since then and haven't found any more for sale.

There are some examples found in caves that are hafted on 15 foot poles, and were thought to have been used for killing birds and cutting down nests, but later on these were used for flighting.

[DesertWalker]

Obsidian Scalpels - Micro Knives - Scalpels & Blades - Fine Science Tools

[highsierra]

I have used both obsidian and chert tools to do fish and game. Skinning a buck with a quickly fashioned blade is easy. The river at our central coast ranch is full of monterey chert boulders that break into super sharp chunks when struck in a sweet spot.

[nebohill]

that reminds me of something i'd try. I've used flint/chert flakes to cut rope, branches, etc.

Being out in the woods fishing and stuff, with ideas like that he shouldn't go hungry if he's stranded!

[Trask]

Originally Posted by nebohill

that reminds me of something i'd try. I've used flint/chert flakes to cut rope, branches, etc.

Being out in the woods fishing and stuff, with ideas like that he shouldn't go hungry if he's stranded!

Agreed and with e-technology as the basis for so much of our learning our kids are rapidly losing hand skills and wood craft..I believe there is huge value in traditional skills. If a young person doesn't know how to kill something and drag it home they are limited to a higher degree than society would have us believe. They also lose the value structure of the "Law of the Farm"..No small Part of which is the reverence, humility and healthy respect for Nature that should be gained if you've had to process food yourself.

[mbrown1833]

trask, did you put the video up?

[Hoss]

Originally Posted by Trask

Agreed and with e-technology as the basis for so much of our learning our kids are rapidly losing hand skills and wood craft..I believe there is huge value in traditional skills. If a young person doesn't know how to kill something and drag it home they are limited to a higher degree than society would have us believe. They also lose the value structure of the "Law of the Farm"..No small Part of which is the reverence, humility and healthy respect for Nature that should be gained if you've had to process food yourself.

Well said!