The techniques and skills of the pile-dwelling people in crafting tools from stone are impressive. They were able to use one stone to cut another and to shape sandstone by grinding. Using a bow, a wooden rod and sand, they drilled holes into it as required. Using an adhesive made from distilled birch bark, known as birch tar, they attached stone blades to handles, shafts or shafts. The hammers, axes and hatchets produced in this way are on a par with modern tools in terms of effectiveness and durability. Smaller tools such as knives, drills, scrapers or arrowheads were made from flint struck into shape. An experienced stonemason could, within a short time, fashion numerous tools with razor-sharp edges and points from a flint nodule (A1–A3). All he needed was a pressure rod made of stag horn (A3).

Good tools required specific types of stone, which were consequently highly sought after. No wonder a trade network spanned vast distances. Flint came from Belgium and Italy. Amber made its way from the Baltic Sea to Lake Constance and was regarded as a valuable gem. Shiny pyrite or marcasite (B1), also known as fool’s gold, was an important component of the Stone Age tinderbox – struck against flint (B2), it produced hot sparks with which tinder or grass seeds could be made to glow and create a flame (B3).

House type:

Two-room Stone Age pile-dwelling (c. 3500 BC), walls made of woven, clay-plastered twigs.

Reconstructed:

1940, based on excavations at Riedschachen 1 in the Federsee moor, Aichbühl near Bad Schussenried and Sipplingen, 1923–1930.

The Stone Age pocket knife

A flint, some poplar bark and birch tar – that’s all you need for your Stone Age pocket knife. It sits comfortably in the hand and the risk of injury is low. A little caution can’t hurt, though. The little flint knife is actually quite sharp. You can use it to cut grass and string, carve up meat or saw off thin branches. It’s also a help when harvesting grain: the ears can be easily separated from the stalk with it. And when you’re not using it, you can simply tie the pocket knife to your belt with a leather cord.

Can you find it?