Ever imagine?

[Trask]

I think about this and related topics of Native peoples all the time while out hunting...And I think the comment about hunting V. Buying was meant in that spirit..Not as an insult but as a reference to the fact that if your out walking in solitude over the same ground as the first peoples looking for the evidence of their respective lives, that your more likely to ponder these concepts in a different manner.
I have to echo Dr. Dave's sentiments about "Time and Place" as I have personally had the thought..shivering cold...collar of my down jacket turned up against the cold desert winter..."This would be a hard place to make a living".

[drdave514]

Personally, I think if a person isn't able to trap food, make fire and boil water without a metal container...... you're pretty much screwed. Even then I can't imagine getting by without AT LEAST a knife. And I can knap.

The good news, compared to 300 years ago, is the amount of trash you could find now for resources. Containers, binding materials, cover, etc... Not to mention how awesome a McDonald's dumpster would be.

[Cluton]

Shelter would be the number one goal for family! If I could take my bow, it would be on, food wouldn't be that bad finding! We have good springs around here, but it still carries parasites and yuckies, so I think it would take awhile for your body to get used too! Also pecans and other nuts would do until one could catch fish or hunt! It wouldn't be easy at all! You could always join others and be stronger!? But yes many people would not do good at all, possibly me,, and def my wife! lol

[DesertWalker]

Cdean & joshua - I wasn't trying to be negative. Trask pretty well covered it. I sometimes make statements that are misunderstood.

[paleoman10]

i was raised in the appalachians and was taught how to live of the land make fire and hunt/trap food with just whats on hand in nature. but now a days the younger generation would be screwed

[Palmwood]

I buy relics from time to time, but I will offer up an opinion anyway, legitimate or not.

Sorry, I'm usually good for at least one smartaz comment.

To the question,
Most every collector or student of prehistoric artifacts ponders such things and thinks about what it must have been like. If I could have chosen my birthday it would have been about 10,000 years ago. I try to imagine all that may have spawned fear or awe or worship so long ago. Rocks, maybe, but there were some who had little or no rock such as those living in the delta marsh. They used bone, shell and antler instead. All prehistoric cultures utilized plant and animal resources that we only get a glimpse of since almost all of those artifacts biodegrade with time. I think we see a little of their worship in the form of effigy symbolism. Usually important or special animals such as deer, falcons, parakeets, owls, frogs, and cicadas to name a few. Also sun and water symbols. I would think fire as well.

I try to imagine what it would be like living in a tent under all weather conditions. We have adequate protection against tornadoes, hurricanes, lightning, flooding, hail, blizzards, and such. And we have a basic understanding of weather and weather forecasts. We have doctors and hospitals, clean water, processed sewage, a toothbrush, toilet paper, razor, mirror, lantern, bic lighter, raincoat, boots, salt and pepper, an orange, ice cream, beer, .......... you get the idea

We understand the Earth and the Solar System. We have a sense of time and place as it relates to each of our lives here. With all we have and know we wouldn't stand much of a chance if thrown back in time to try and survive on modern knowledge. How about being thrown back in time with nothing other than a pregnant wife. When I feel stress at work I think about that sometimes. That would be REAL stress. Go find food and shelter for you and your wife every day, rain, snow, whatever, just be sure to have a couple of happy meals when you get back. Then you come home with a few dead turtles or something, and she has had the baby, they are both sick, Huggies and cradles and blankets don't exist.

Anyway, I do think about it.

[jamiebenedickt]

If you haven't.

[beargrass]

I have thought of many of these things before...like seeing the northern lights dance around. How could you not worship this site or perceive it to be other worldly. It would be hard not to worship the sun as well. Looking at it slightly different...I think the indians would have been more inclined to worship the things that were provided to them without assistance. Flint would have to be worked, shelters modified, water retrieved, but the sun would have provided them with something unexplainable, sudden warmth...crop growth. Samething with wind..things that happen that you can't modify or change/control ...how else could you explain this

[Maumee Bay]

I learned to live off the outdoors from my father then reinforced for 4yrs in the rangers
I think most people including myself would have a real hard time if put in that situation
because we are spoiled and soft
Paul

[comanche]

I think most people would have a Hard time at First.
Necessity is the best teacher,and From my experience of living off the Grid In Alaska.Community is very Vital in survival///c