Needle

A needle made from animal skeletal material - bone, probably dating late Bronze Age to Roman. The base of the needle is bulbous and has a circular, hourglass perforation. After the perforation the needle tapers down to the points. The surface of the needle is highly polished due to use/wear.

Needles are pointed objects used to punch holes through other thin objects, usually a fabric, leather or skin. They are often made out of bone, wood, or various metals. The needle works on the principle of applying a force on a very concentrated area of the punctured object. The small diameter and angularity of the point mean a more concentrated area, and therefore less total force is needed to puncture the targeted object. Needles can also have a loop at the end opposite the point, where thread can be inserted and brought through the fabric. This is the mechanism known as sewing by which two thin objects can be joined together.

Crafting instructions

Making a needle from bone or wood is relatively simple.

• First find a piece of bone or wood that is small and straight.
• For bone needles, fish and bird bones are often used as they are widely available and are already sharp at one end.
• Using a sharp rock and a twisting/pushing, motion a hole can be drilled out of the blunt end.

Dependencies

• Bone
• Iron
• Steel
• Wood
  • Needle
• Thread

See also

• Chisel
• Knife
• Spear
• Tools