Wednesday, November 28, 2018

"Primitive Technology" book by Errett Callahan


PRIMITIVE TECHNOLOGY by Callahan


“Primitive Technology: Practical Guidelines for Making Stone Tools, Pottery, Basketry, etc., the Aboriginal Way,” by Errett Callahan, PhD.

Errett Callahan has been around a long time, teaching how people produced their everyday goods in the past, using the technologies then available.  He is perhaps best known for his works on flint-knapping, the art of taking various rocks and fracturing them to make arrowheads or spear points.  Besides over 30 years of teaching many of the teachers today, he’s authored “A Manual for Flintknappers and Lithic Analysts,” wherein he describes and defines the stages of the process to make proper stone points.

His “Primitive Technology” book is backed up by his 40 years of personal experience.  According to his count, he’s made at least 8000 stone tools, 200 earthenware pots (as well as cooking in them), and at least 50 aboriginal dwellings.  Additionally, he’s lost count of the bows, arrows, baskets, fire-gear, and other items. His books is based on what works.


“Primitive Technology” consists of mostly line drawings, summarizing flint-knapping, projectiles, bows, pottery, baskets, mats, fire, and shelter.  According to Callahan, the pages of this 8 ½ x 11 book were originally charts used in the teaching process, so they are reduced from a larger size. 


Callahan was a founding member of the Society of Primitive Technology, now somewhat in hiatus, and though retired, apparently still does some teaching in his Virginia workshop.

“Primitive Technology” is available for $17  (price includes postage), to School of Self-Reliance, Box 41834, Eagle Rock, CA 90041.  You can also get your copy by sending the payment to Paypal, using the e-mail christopher_nyerges@yahoo.com.

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roaa mohamed said...
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