Making Fire Like in the Stone Age

In the past, people had to make do with simple means. Fire was especially important. It provided warmth and light, offered protection from wild animals and made it possible to prepare food. But people had to learn how to control fire. It can be very useful, but it can also cause great damage. People have been able to use fire for many thousands of years.

One method, known for at least 35,000 years, works like this: People gather tinder fungus, which still grows commonly on trees today. They also need marcasite or pyrite. These are special stones found in many places in nature. In the Stone Age, traders also brought them to places where they did not occur naturally.

Finally, you need flint stones. These were especially important to people in the Stone Age. They also made arrowheads and tools for cutting and scraping from flint.

Now scrape off a small amount of tinder fungus. Then strike the flint against the marcasite. This produces sparks. You really do need these two minerals to make sparks. Striking two pieces of flint together does not work.

After just a short time, the sparks make the tinder fungus material smoulder. You can see this from the smoke rising.

The glowing tinder is then placed on easily combustible material, such as dried willow catkins or straw.

Blowing or using a blowpipe can greatly speed up the flames.

As soon as the straw catches fire, it’s probably time to throw it on the ground. You can keep the fire going with wood shavings, bark, twigs and branches. You can turn it into a big bonfire, for example, or bake deliciously crispy stick bread.