The Burmese pouch
collected by the Beardsley's is listed as a "Flint and Tinder pouch".
After some research, it appears that flint and tinder refers to the technology
used to create this pouch.
"Flint and Tinder Pouch - Burma" from the Beardsley's Collection
Flint, according to
Wikipedia, "is a hard, sedimentary cryptocrystalline form of mineral
quartz, often categorized as a variety of chert". Flint has been a part of
man's toolkit for thousands of years, seeing specialized use beginning in the
Neolithic age. The material has been used for the fabrication of projectile
points, bifaces, and other lithic technologies.
Alibates Flint Quarry, picture from the National Park Service
It turns out that
flint has a fantastic ability to generate sparks of hot material when struck
against steel, making it a go to material when one needs to start a fire.
However, flint and steel combined with tinder creates an even stronger flame.
Modern device used for starting fire with flint.
Tinder is an easily
combustible material, which makes it the perfect material to use in the
construction of materials.
Tinder being used to start fire. Photo from "Wild Survival Skills" blog
Further research is
definitely needed. I'm planning on heading into the lab to see what material
the pouch is actually made out of, and then do more research to see if I can
find comparable pouches made in Burma.
Actually, I'm pretty sure it is meant to hold/carry flint and tender, so one was equipped to start a fire. Your photo of the flint didn't load, but I can see it is from Alibates Flint quarry, which is an absolutely huge and AWESOME site. I visited it with one of my former profs (a lithics specialist) and some friends, back in the early 80s. I hope you get to see it in person one day. Maybe I'll dig out my slides and piece of alibates flint (the latter glued to a Nat'l Park Service card). I'm assuming that was their way of making sure people didn't haul it off illegally. Alibates flint is a beautiful red with yellow streaks. Very clear why people returned to quarry it for thousands of years.
ReplyDeleteIt's astonishing how amazing certain types of lithics can be!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the clarification on the intended use of the pouch. My assumption was that the rivets and decorations may have been forged in a fire. I hate to even say it, but I had no idea what flint and tinder was used for before I began researching the item! Granted, there isn't much need for it in our contemporary society, but still...
We'll have to see if we can find others flint and tender pouches that are similar to it. I wish we still had the Burmese silk blouse that was once in the collection (not sure when it was de-accessioned or lost, but I suspect Alice collected it--vs. GF). So many mysteries!
ReplyDeleteI learn some new stuff from it too, thanks for sharing your information. https://tinderhackapk.info/
ReplyDelete