So I was doing some reading, and was fascinated by what "Otzi" had with him when he died. For those who aren't familiar, Otzi was a dude who lived about 5000 years ago, died on a glacier, and wound up mummified. Result = his kit was really well preserved.
To me, the overlap between caveman gear vs modern was incredible, and seemed to really show that although our materials have changed, the actual tools haven't. Here's the list, formatted as best I can on a forum. Left is what Otzi carried, Right is my best take on modern equivalent:
OTZI......................MODERN
---------..................--------
BACKPACK
- Pack frame............... Backpack
- Axe (60cm)............... Axe/Hatchet?
- Bow, arrows, quiver...... Long arm
* 12 arrows
* 1.82m bow
- Dagger 13cm.............. Knife (13cm)
- Retoucher................ Sharpener
- Birchbark pots........... Water bottle / pot
- Stone disc / bird belt... Game bag
- Birch fungus ............ BooBoo/first aid kit
- Berries/meat ............ Food
BELT POUCHES
- Tinder fungus ........... Fire starter
- Scraper.................. ? ->Hide prep? Skinning?
- Boring tool.............. ? ->Drill bit? Scissors?
- Awl...................... Awl
- Flint flake.............. ? Small knife? Kill kit knife?
CLOTHIHNG
- Hide coat/robe.......... Coat
- Grass cape.............. Rain gear?
- Leggings, loincloth .... Pants
- Belt ................... Belt
- Underwear............... Underwear
- Belt w/ two pouches .... ? Possibles pouch? Fanny pack?
- Boots................... Boots
- Bearskin cap ........... touque
What Otzi had with him pretty much mirrors what I (or dare I say most of us) carry in a pack when out hunting, even 5000 years later. So for those of you who sometimes get trapped by gear analysis paralysis (Guilty as charged), don't overthink it: The cavemen had it figured out a long time ago. You could easily just copy what they carried with them, and you'll probably be in good shape for tromping innawoods chasing critters.
en.wikipedia.org
www.iceman.it
To me, the overlap between caveman gear vs modern was incredible, and seemed to really show that although our materials have changed, the actual tools haven't. Here's the list, formatted as best I can on a forum. Left is what Otzi carried, Right is my best take on modern equivalent:
OTZI......................MODERN
---------..................--------
BACKPACK
- Pack frame............... Backpack
- Axe (60cm)............... Axe/Hatchet?
- Bow, arrows, quiver...... Long arm
* 12 arrows
* 1.82m bow
- Dagger 13cm.............. Knife (13cm)
- Retoucher................ Sharpener
- Birchbark pots........... Water bottle / pot
- Stone disc / bird belt... Game bag
- Birch fungus ............ BooBoo/first aid kit
- Berries/meat ............ Food
BELT POUCHES
- Tinder fungus ........... Fire starter
- Scraper.................. ? ->Hide prep? Skinning?
- Boring tool.............. ? ->Drill bit? Scissors?
- Awl...................... Awl
- Flint flake.............. ? Small knife? Kill kit knife?
CLOTHIHNG
- Hide coat/robe.......... Coat
- Grass cape.............. Rain gear?
- Leggings, loincloth .... Pants
- Belt ................... Belt
- Underwear............... Underwear
- Belt w/ two pouches .... ? Possibles pouch? Fanny pack?
- Boots................... Boots
- Bearskin cap ........... touque
What Otzi had with him pretty much mirrors what I (or dare I say most of us) carry in a pack when out hunting, even 5000 years later. So for those of you who sometimes get trapped by gear analysis paralysis (Guilty as charged), don't overthink it: The cavemen had it figured out a long time ago. You could easily just copy what they carried with them, and you'll probably be in good shape for tromping innawoods chasing critters.
Ötzi - Wikipedia
Ötzi the Iceman, Museum of Archaeology Bolzano
Ötzi, the glacier mummy, is displayed in the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology in Bolzano, Italy together with his clothing and equipment.
www.iceman.it
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