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Long before the Europeans arrived on North America's east coast, the Mi'kmaq first peoples had become skilled in techniques which enabled them to make all the tools and equipment they needed from animal bone, ivory, sharp teeth, claws, hair, fur, feather, leather, quills, shells, clay, natural copper, stone, wood, roots and bark. Short and long Axes, adzes and gouges were made by pecking (striking) and grinding stones to a sharp edge and smooth surface. These tools were used to cut and carve wood and bone. Fine carving was done with sharp beaver teeth. For killing game and butchering meat, they used spears, knives, arrow points and scrapers, all made from special stones like chalcedony and flint. This rock fractures in a way which "peels" the stone away in flakes, creating a razor-sharp edge. Bone points were used to harpoon sturgeon and porpoise, and for the wood-and-bone trident fish spears. Awls, painting tools and sewing needles were also of bone from animals and fish. Copper was worked into needles and fishhooks. This type of equipment was usually made by men, who also fashioned baby-carriers, sleds, snowshoe frames and tobacco pipes of stone, bone, bark, wood and even from the claws of crab and lobster. Fish and animal traps were made of woven bark and reeds. Soon after the Europeans arrived trade took place and many fine woven baskets were traded for forged metal tools.

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15y ago

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