The ethics of hunting with primitive weapons (stone points) is no different than hunting with modern steel broadheads, if they are made well and used properly.@@salacommander2674
I honestly believe these fine gentlemen are doing as much as anyone alive today to increase understanding and appreciation for hunting and conservation. Thanks Clay, Cal, and Spencer for all you do.
In the long list of interesting videos y'all have put out, THIS one takes the cake! It's so cool to see how potentially our ancestors worked on an animal. Keep 'em coming!!!
I was watching my taxidermist’s wife de-flesh a deer cape with a little triangular tool she fashioned from a single edged razor blade. I said that tool looks a lot like the little quartz points I find on my place. My taxidermist, who is also a fanatic relic collector, looked up from the mount he was working on and said yes, that’s exactly how those little points were used. He then proceeded to show me a lot of his relic collection and explain how various tools were used which was quite impressive. Before I knew it I had been there for hours.
I agree there are many aspects to this video that make it so great and so interesting. One thing that got my attention is how the hunters skinning the Bison at first were seeing how the stone tools worked as compared to the knives they are use to and then went to "What if" we had this or it would be better if we had something like this so they stopped being an experienced tester and started actually having a creative input and the more they "What if" the more they talked with each other, it went from a demo to a creative collaboration process.
If you ever want to do any experimental field archaeology, hit me up. I've have been a flintknapper and a primative hunter for 40 years. I live in Montana and have a background in archaeology.
It's cool how through the course of the video, they're rediscovering techniques, problems and fixes that would have been common knowledge 20,000 years ago. That knowledge would have been passed down through the generations but it's all been forgotten once metal tools became widespread. Twenty thousand years ago, a bunch of more experienced hunters would have gently made fun of a newbie who broke a stone knife. Some things never change.
I've been flintknapping for over 30 years. I've killed and I've butchered numerous animals with stone tools and they are amazingly efficient at cutting and butchering when used properly. By the way, that was Georgetown flint from Texas they were using for the flakes and knives and handaxe. It's obvious the crew were not familiar with using stone tools, because they used the tools in reverse. The flakes should have been used first to make the initial cuts through the hide because their edges are FAR sharper than the bifacial knives. Once the initial cuts are made, then the hafted knives are used to skin the animal. The hafted stone knife is far superior to any modern knife because the serrated edge separates the connective tissue between the hide and carcass with amazing efficiency, but it doesn't slice the hide unless you REALLY bear down on it. That results in a pristine hide that can be tanned into premium buckskin for clothes, moccasins, etc. They were also abusing the stone knives when they pried the bones ... that's how they broke a few of the stone knives. When you're far from any source of tool stone, that's the last thing you want. I've got an obsidian knife I've had for over 20 years and it's still an amazingly efficient skinning tool. Stone arrow and spearpoints are also incredibly lethal for hunting...I've killed numerous north American big game animals with them as well as several African Plains game animals. They all dropped within seconds after being hit. Don't doubt what stone tools can do...
I love Steve's affinity and appreciation to understand the origins of first people's and how they hunted, foraged, developed and used tools. This is by far, the best video yet!!!
@@spacemanspliff7844 What would be the appropriate name? Seems nothing is correct these days...or it's only correct until somebody gets their shorts wadded about it. Then it's criminal.
Need to collaborate with Hunt Primitive... He hunted a bison with an atlatl he made and stone points he made! Has done hogs, deer, rabbit and squirrel, even fish as well. Would be an awesome podcast, hunt/fishing episode and cool to see him teach you how to make everything and use it! #HuntPrimitive #Collaboration #MeatEaterHuntPrimitive
What a fascinating collaboration. It's not hard to picture something similar happening back in the Clovis culture days. You probably had people dedicated to creating the tools, and others who would only do the butchering.
Super cool episode. Great group of guys to have do this. Did you guys consider reaching out to local First Nations Elders in the area? I wonder if they would have had some valuable insite. I had the opportunity to set up a tipi for a ceremony in our area, and if we had not had an elder present, we would have made some horrible mistakes. It was a great learning experience to learn about their culture and traditions.
Loved every aspect of this. The meticulous data recording, the guys carving up a buffalo, and Spencer deboning. It makes you wonder how close that was to how people did that thousand years ago
if you guys do this again, it would be really cool to invite some native american elders from bison hunting tribes to be there. There's some tribal colleges in Montana that teach traditional tool making, and the instructors know all about this stuff and the older methods. They might be able to fill in some of the unknowns. Not a complaint. just a suggestion. I really enjoyed this video
Steve is a great Novelist/ Orator. I love this content, it’s the only “hunting”show that isn’t 24/7 ad or product placement. You can actually learn , and is trilling. You have a rare talent. Please don’t screw it up.
This is absolutely amazing. Thanks for taking the time to reconnect us with our roots. If possible do a community post with some links when the paper is published.
Ever since the podcast came out I have been waiting for this video. The opportunity to participate in this kind of research is amazing and I am VERY jealous of the Meateater crew that was able to participate.
This was honestly one of the best "documentarys" I've ever seen! from the team and cooperation and like minded great ideas! to the handson on site problem solving like making the axe to get around the ribs! very single bit of this was as interesting as the rest and I would love to see more of this kind of stuff! From a stone tool hunt, to processing, and down to the way our ancestors would do it all! the teamwork and process makes it so enjoyable and relatable!
Great timing for this video. I just finished reading American Buffalo by Steve Rinella yesterday. Was a great read on par with his other books. There was a whole chapter that spoke heavily of historic Clovis blades.
If you enjoyed this episode, you should go the the Hunt Primitive Clovis episodes which also began with atlatl harvesting of the bison in the first place.
My favorite MeatEater content to date. I could have watched hours worth of this. I’d like to see them do more research collaborations. Keep up the good work gals and guys
Any one of us would give a fortune to take part in something like this with you folks. Your best content to date. So much respect and adoration for the way you represent the hunting and outdoors community. Lead from the front and you will always have an army of followers to support you. Well done, MeatEater crew!
All the laughs and smiles were so great to see. Love seeing these folks have a truly great time doing something they are so passionate about. Probably one of my favorite videos ever produced by MeatEater. Im honestly jealous. Keep up the great work!
Another episode of Meateater which is the best on RU-vid. I grew up without a father...thank you Imperial Japanese Navy...but I was fortunate and lucky that I found father/mentors when I discovered writers like Jack O'Connor, John Jobson and Robert Ruark in my junior high library. Steve Rinella rates as high, maybe a little higher, as a writer/role model as the aformentioned writers. I imagine there are young people who may have no father/hunter/trapper role models but being introduced to his pursuits and more importantly, his ethical standards follow him along as they would as I did with my faux bio-dads. I always wanted to write to Jack O'Connor to think him for what he did for me but I never could find the correct words. However, Thank you Mr. Rinella for your books and videos. You are the best.
Something to think about in the discussion of formal tools vs flakes: availability of source material and group mobility. Flake tools are far easier to produce, retouch, and dispose of when worn or broken. However, formal bifacial tools will last longer with retouching, and can carry out a more wide range of tasks. For more mobile groups with less access to good source material, bifacial tools are a better option if you only want to carry one tool. You see this dichotomy between mobile Great Basin Archaic groups and neighboring agricultural Fremont/Ancestral Pueblo peoples later in prehistory. Great work everyone!
Man this was so cool! Truly appreciate all the different content the crew puts out. Always learn something new in every video and every podcast. Much respect to the crew!
I did this with a 800 pound elk last year. I thought was really cool to use stone tools the way they used to. It took a little longer than normal but me and a friend of mine had a good time doing it. The only downside was that we cut ourselves a couple times (small cuts) because we aren't used to holding and using sharp rocks.
I work at a slaughter house and I can tell you that anatomical knowledge really helps find the sweet spot when it comes to cracking joints! Just hitting the ligaments takes some knowledge. When you see neolithic art depicting animals you can tell how familiar with these animals forms they were. I wonder about the flakes when I comes to removing ribs from spine or splitting the pelvis line of younger animals.
I can imagine some Sioux squaws standing around watching that butchering and laughing their heads off and poking fun! They were the master butchers of the plains…among others!
As a life long hunter, processing my kills myself and with a BA Degree in Southwest Archeology, this was super interesting. I love Meater videos, but his one is a standout for me!
Thank you Folks for another great, educational production. So professional and interesting. Former Wilderness Guide in Rockies here and last moose of similar size took 1-1/2 days for myself to completely de-bone with best knives, hatchet and bone saw money could buy back when I was a fit 46yrs. Hands and arms so sore after I could hardly drive vehicle home. Like yourselves I had access to nearby walk-in cooler at that time. Not always the case. Good Work and thanks again.
This was a really good video idea. I would explore other Native American techniques regarding hunting or day to day living with stone tools. Having a group of scientists / experts there to explain the tools and how they made them was also very interesting along with your insights as to how easy they are to use
A friend of mine named Kelly that teaches at Karamat in Canada showed me a way that the indigenous community in Canada does this. They open one side of the cape then roll the animal over and the guts dump onto the cape. They also circle the tendons on the ribs at the joint which allows the whole rack to be removed.
Ah man, this is just the type of experimental Archaeology I loved of which I loved being a part when I studied the field. Clovis points were such a fascinating subject and I'm jealous I wasn't there, ahaha. awesome video. thank you!
I've really been invested in watching about Clovis and ancient peoples lately. This fit in so perfect and with an excellent group of true professionals at their craft. Thank you Meat Eater crew and scientists/historians for some damn fine entertainment!
Amazing video. There is more of this sort of experimental work being done - I'm thinking about the Todd Cutler series on longbows and armor, as well as others. The whole approach to answering how a tool kit might have been used is just great to watch.
Really good content. This guy is always iynteresting; and funny how the other people he brings on can't carry the mail in the same way. Seems like SR learned his hunting and his media personality naturally and it suits him. There's a New Yorker article about the guy they found in the alps frozen from a thousand years ago and a footwear aficionado. They recreated the shoes of this thousand year old human and he said they were the best shoes he'd ever worn, but also he said 'so what, who's going to make shoes with this particular grass, chord, sinew, hide, etc... It was all done with stuff we don't relate to anymore so even if they are better than anything made today, it doesn't change anything. Like the cutting tools in your video. Still super cool content. Thanks and take it from the man.
This is one of the best informational videos I have ever seen on stone points i hope to see more of stuff like this from Steve he fits the part very well
This was interesting and fun to watch. Thanks for recreating this ancient art of our ancestors and first man and how they had to survive. I’ve always been curious and amazed by ancient stone artifacts. Great job.
Smacking that final Clovis flake was impressive. Great episode for people who enjoy butchering; I broke a squirrel down with flint a long time ago. I would hope more people are encouraged to explore flintknapping having seen this.
I was excited for this video and it did not disappoint. There is something satisfying about watching the group process that bison. It did feel odd to not have a cooking segment...
That was a lot of fun to watch. I was hoping that they'd have a meal of that meat together afterward. The killing, butchering, preparing, cooking, and eating of such a beautiful creature had to create deep social ties among the Clovis peoples
Imagine the celebration and levity of an instance that wasn’t so clinical. Eat the best bits first, still warm with the strength of the beast, with your best friends. Your intentional family.
Gentle flintknapping can make these tools super sharp. Took a class many years ago and still have a few pieces. Razor sharp when done right. Fantastic repro of trying to figure out the olde ways.! If you are really hunting, take a knapping class. It is amazing.
When one of the guys started singing I had a very vivid realization that the singing, the chatting. the joking, and just shooting the shit while cutting up the animal is probably exactly what it was like back in the day.
Fascinating! If I could add $0.02; form follows function. You would break that carcass down differently with tools that have different capabilities. For example: rather than hacking through cartilage to seperate the ribs from the spine, wouldn't it be easier to utilize that razor edged stone to french the ribs individually? Even looking at the effect modern tools and industrialization has had on butchery, the way English primal cuts differ from American is based on the tools each had available and their respective capabilities. Furthermore: French cuts like entrecote (between the rib) or cote du beouf (rib) were indicative of how they were cut before bandsaws made chining and portioning a rib subprimal more accessable. Previously cuts were seperated between vertebrae with a cleaver, whereas now you might measure an even 3/4" with a saw stop, and cut right through any pesky bone impediments.
This is one of the best ideas ever. Really interesting collaboration. I would like to try this elk hunting this fall, although I can’t make the same tools.
Desert drifter sent me here...glad to see this...very interesting! What did 'the people' do with the bones? Nowadays ...we make bone broth...did they? How? Or maybe just ate the marrow?? Can anyone tell me? Thanks!
