Free Ivory Fridays for 3/27/15

Mark Knapp

Mark Knapp

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Would you like to win this ivory?

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Answer this question; Ivory for use on tools dates back to when?

This will be the last drawing for free ivory, I'm not really feeling the love anymore. One guy didn't even thank me for the $150.00 piece of ivory I sent him for free.

I thought there would be a few more people contacting their representatives, that was a little disappointing. If we end up with a bunch of laws restricting the use and sale of mammoth ivory, at least I know I did my part.

Thanks to everyone that contributed.
 
I certainly appreciate what you have done Mark. If not for people working against these crazy laws that make no sense by people whobjave no idea what they are doing theres no telling what we won't be able to do soon
Thanks Anthony
 
[SUB][/SUB]Hmmm Id have guessed ancient egypt because of the proximity to elephants but it's probably before that with cavemen using mammoth...

thanks mark for all that you guys do... i wish ny wasnt so backwards with regards to knife (and ivory) laws
 
As far as i know, ivory has been used for tools since prehistoric times. They also used it for sculptures or art back then.

Mark I would be immensely appreciative if I won these beautiful ivory scales from you. I would save them until I found an especially important knife to make. Thanks for the opportunity at least.

Shane
 
Be proud in what you have done mark, lots of us would not of known just how aggresive and widespread these attempts at banning have become without you. Hundreds of not thousands of people know more now. Dozens of politicians been emailed and educated as well. All while putting mammoth ivory in makers hands. Pretty awesome achievment i would say.

As to your question, thats a tough one even for an anthropology buff like myself. I believe the oldest use of ivory as a tool currently known is a sewing needle dating back30- 40,000 years ago in Russia. There is also the broken mammoth dig site up in your neck of the woods in Alaska that has ivory tools going back i believe 10-20k+. And i have never heard ivory mentioned specifically, but blombos cave in south Africa has bone tools dating back as far as 100,000 years ago. I cant imagine one of them isnt made of ivory since its a cave situated not far from where herds of elephants have been roaming for longer than humans have.
 
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Don't want to enter the drawing, as I'm sure I couldn't do these justice, but I do appreciate your efforts to keep this issue at the forefront. Your posts reminded me to contact my representative when this issue was up for discussion in MD. Thanks for all your efforts.
 
I appreciate all you are doing Mark! Everybody in the community needs to be doing their part, and you have gone above and beyond. :thumbup:

- Joe
 
Mammoths and similar mega fauna helped make homo sapiens what we are, as the high level of teamwork, communication and use of tools required in taking down these animals pushed the adaptation of our species.

The use of ivory in and on tools predates homo sapiens and probably evolved along with us. Talking 200,000 years ago or more.
 
Hi Mark,

If it is arguable that a flute is a tool? ... And I believe its is arguable, then my 1st example should answer your question.

If we will be sticking with the strictest meaning of a tool, then the second example of Ivory sewing needles should satisfy your question.

In 2012, researchers discovered the world’s oldest musical instruments, 42,000–43,000 years old. The find was identified by Professor Nick Conard, the Tuebingen University researcher who was also the lead excavator of the previous record holder, also found in a nearby area in 2009. The instruments are bone flutes, one of which was fashioned from mammoth ivory, the other from a bird’s bone. They were found in the Geissenkloesterle Cave in the Upper Danube region of southern Germany. Based upon the finds from this cave and others in and around the region, it is thought that humans entered the area 39,000–40,000 years ago, just before an extremely cold climatic period. Professor Conard believes that the artifacts collected from the area indicate that the area served as a corridor for the flow of technological innovations into Europe at the time. Music could have been used for recreation or religious ritual and could have been part of a suite of behaviors that allowed early humans to out-compete Neanderthal man.Some scientists believe that the ability to play music goes back even further. Professor Chris Stringer, a human origins researcher at the Natural History Museum in London who worked on instruments discovered in the Hohle Fels cavern in southwest Germany, believes that humans may even have possessed the trappings of advanced cultural creativity as far back as Africa over 50,000 years ago or even earlier.

The oldest dated bone and ivory sowing needles with eyelets were found at a group of more than 20 sites along the Don River near the villages of Kostenki and Borshevo (250 miles south of Moscow). Most of the stone used for artefact construction was imported from between 60 miles and 100 miles away

The main display room in the Kostenki Museum shows a dig partially excavated, with the remains of mammoths strewn across the floor.



Approx age:30,000 - 40,000 BP
Location: Kostenki, Russia

I will be sad to see these threads disappear ... But I understand your frustration.

Thanks for you're generous nature Mark and I certainly appreciate your efforts to keep Ivory free of undue legislative bans and available to craftsman.


Bobby
 
bobbywett said:
Hi Mark,

If it is arguable that a flute is a tool? ... And I believe its is arguable, then my 1st example should answer your question.

If we will be sticking with the strictest meaning of a tool, then the second example of Ivory sewing needles should satisfy your question.

In 2012, researchers discovered the world’s oldest musical instruments, 42,000–43,000 years old. The find was identified by Professor Nick Conard, the Tuebingen University researcher who was also the lead excavator of the previous record holder, also found in a nearby area in 2009. The instruments are bone flutes, one of which was fashioned from mammoth ivory, the other from a bird’s bone. They were found in the Geissenkloesterle Cave in the Upper Danube region of southern Germany. Based upon the finds from this cave and others in and around the region, it is thought that humans entered the area 39,000–40,000 years ago, just before an extremely cold climatic period. Professor Conard believes that the artifacts collected from the area indicate that the area served as a corridor for the flow of technological innovations into Europe at the time. Music could have been used for recreation or religious ritual and could have been part of a suite of behaviors that allowed early humans to out-compete Neanderthal man.Some scientists believe that the ability to play music goes back even further. Professor Chris Stringer, a human origins researcher at the Natural History Museum in London who worked on instruments discovered in the Hohle Fels cavern in southwest Germany, believes that humans may even have possessed the trappings of advanced cultural creativity as far back as Africa over 50,000 years ago or even earlier.

The oldest dated bone and ivory sowing needles with eyelets were found at a group of more than 20 sites along the Don River near the villages of Kostenki and Borshevo (250 miles south of Moscow). Most of the stone used for artefact construction was imported from between 60 miles and 100 miles away

The main display room in the Kostenki Museum shows a dig partially excavated, with the remains of mammoths strewn across the floor.



Approx age:30,000 - 40,000 BP
Location: Kostenki, Russia

I will be sad to see these threads disappear ... But I understand your frustration.

Thanks for you're generous nature Mark and I certainly appreciate your efforts to keep Ivory free of undue legislative bans and available to craftsman.


Bobby
Click to expand...

Very good answer, of course, everyone that gives an answer will be in the drawing.

I think it's safe to assume that early man took care of his tools for survival before he worried about musical instruments. While I wouldn't really count an instrument as a tool, I have to assume that if they made a flute, they must have made things like hunting points and knives before that, especially given the comparative technologies involved in building each of them. There must be examples of tools that pre-date the flutes, we just haven't found them yet.
 
I imagine Adam was the first person to use Ivory as a tool or on tools so a long time ago lol:)

here's what one of my Rep's said,

Dear Mr. Thompson,

Thank you for contacting me about wildlife trafficking and the illegal ivory trade. I appreciate hearing from you.

We agree that it is important to protect our land and wildlife. I strongly believe that animals should be treated humanely and that we need to balance human needs with concern for endangered species. In addition, all of us should continue to take steps to improve the quality of our environment.

Please be assured that I will keep your thoughts in mind should Congress consider legislation on this matter.


Sincerely,

Lamar Smith Member of Congress


Senator John Cornyn never responded at all and Senator Ted Cruz never responded about Ivory but has sent letters about other issues.
 
Hey Mark, it is great that you were doing this, you really didnt need to and Im sure most people know that. Its unfortunate that some cant understand and don't appreciate it. I have actually linked your main thread with instructions and recommendations on a scrimshaw site as people were asking there what they can do. Hopefully they start getting the ball rolling on their end. On a side note, now that my ivory has left customs, its actually in the area and should be in my mailbox in the next day or so!! A month to go 20 feet and 2 days to go 3000 miles... I can't wait to get it and agonzie about what Im going to use it on. Thanks again and sorry for the hassle.
 
And the winner for the final drawing of Free Ivory Fridays is RIPtastic. Congratulations, send me your shipping info. Thanks to everybody that participated.
 
Got mine today thanks again for doing this hope to have something done with mine soon .will post pictures
Thanks Anthony
 
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