Thread: The Traveling Razor is Done

Originally Posted by wvbias

In addition to the mammoth and mastadon
a lot of animals went extinct during this same
time period, ...
In North and South America, the Giant Ground
Sloth, Camels and Horses. In Europe and Asia
the Giant Cave Bear as well.

Thanks, Terry. This is just the kind of information which broadens the mind and eases it somewhat as well. I always assumed we had a large hand in it because it is precisely this era where Homo Sapiens begin appearing in large numbers around the globe and we have cave drawings of them being hunted. That makes us the prime suspect with that evidence alone. The consideration that a large number of great mammals were dying is a strong defense.

Originally Posted by wvbias

I'm sure if any of us lived back in those
day we would not hesitate to kill one of these animals
to feed no (sic.) only ourselves, but our children as well.

Sooooooo true, but those days are gone. they would also, as Bill mentioned, have used every square inch of any beast they hunted. I wonder what they used that ivory for those ... what ... 10,000 years ago? Maybe even stone axe handles.

X

XMan,

One thing they used the tusks for was a
portable shelter. They would set several
tusks in the ground pointing the tip ends
toward the center. This would then be
covered with hides. The remains of one
were found a few years back. Though I
may be wrong, it could have been in
northern Canada. If that was the case
then it would have been Paleo era Indians
but I'm sure others around the colder
regions of the world would have done the
same. They also used ivory for ornamenal
reasons as well.

Some of these tusks would have came
from kills, but others would have came
from Mammoths that had simply just
died.

From bone would have came spear points,
needles,awl's and even draw knives from
split leg bones.

I heard a theory a while back that suggested
that some sort of virus may have played a
part in the mass extinction of these animals.
Another factor was a low reproductive rate
compared to say the Bison.

So many things to ponder on this fascinating
subject.


Terry

Contrary to the popular romantic belief, natives wouldn't use every last scrap of the animals they killed. Hides, tusks, teeth and certain choice cuts of meat were favoured. The rest? Often left behind. After all, their world was an abundantly stocked pantry. Just as we'll crack the seal on a new jar of peanut butter instead of scraping at the inner walls of the old one, these guys didn't huddle around sucking the marrow from old bones. They were incessant hunters -- not exactly the peaceful, nature-worshiping folks pop-culture has painted them as.

Of course, when resources were running low, especially during the Ice Age, people would have definitely tried to conserve.

OK guys...

I'm asking nicely for you to not turn my thread into some form of animal rights protest. I don't want to start disliking any of you. Start your own thread on the subject so I don't have to read it, please.

But animals have rights! You're an animal. And this is your thread ... ... right. Sorry Cap'n. I thought we were doing pretty well, but you're the boss. Guess that's my next entry. I'll get started.

X

Hey I love animals too. especially with a little salt and pepper.

I didn't claw my way to the top of the food chain just to eat vegetables! (btw, beautiful razor, Bill).

-- Gary F.

My apologies if I offended anyone. I just think that discussing personal beliefs on the use of animals is an entirely different subject and could be discussed all by itself somewhere else. If the use of ivory bothers you, don't ask to have it sent to you... I can respect that.

I only said something about the ivory in the first place to reassure everyone that this specific piece came from an animal that died of natural causes or was killed by something other than for the sport of it by man.

To me, using this ivory is no different than running across a set of antlers from a cougar kill in the woods and getting good use from them to make handles or scales or tools or anything else. I don't like to see things of beauty going to waste. I look at it as an intelligent form of recycling and illustrates my own form of respect for the animal it came from.

I do not want to create bad feelings between anyone. We all have different viewpoints. I am only asking that a discussion about animal rights be taken to a thread of its own so I do not have to participate.

thank you...

Bill,

You didn't offend me at all. The purpose of the thread
needed to be steered back to it's original purpose.
I regret that I played a part in helping to lead it
astray. Sometimes I have a big mouth and talk
too much.


Terry

Bill, your recycling comment just reminded me of something! I've got a nice sized deer antler kicking around. It's got a few gnawing marks from beavers, but I'll bet I could make some cool scales out of them... with the right equipment. New project coming up.