My previous post re clean-shaven Romans prompted questions re the technology used to shave in that era. This video (via Time Travelling) shows a primitive skills educator making his own blade by knapping some obsidian, then shaving with it.
These scanning EMs [credit: William A. Haviland] show that an obsidian blade is as sharp as, and smoother than, a modern steel scalpel.
Obsidian knives have been developed in modern times, but I suspect they could never be employed internally because of their intrinsic brittleness.
Finally, for completeness, Razorland has a gallery of primitive razors (bronze, iron, and copper) from a variety of early cultures.
Absolutely fascinating video. Glad you put the vid up!
ReplyDeleteI am not sure what you mean by "never be employed internally." You mean like surgery? http://www.finescience.com/Special-Pages/Products.aspx?ProductId=296
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8415970
That's what I meant. I don't think they will be used to resect gallbladders or lung cancer, because if a fragment flaked off, it would be like having broken glass inside the peritoneum.
DeleteI looked at both of our links. As with other stuff I've read, the only suggested application is for external (skin) incisions (or removal of dermatologic lesions).
When I was a kid, I read an article about a flintknapper who insisted that his surgeon use obsidian scalpels he made himself. I wish I could find it or remember more, but I do think the surgery was internal and fairly major...
DeleteThis is fascinating. I once read that Roman soldies on campaign shaved with a block of pumice, so I tried that, and I can report that you can get quite a decent shave with it, but it's painfully slow if you used to a steel blade.
ReplyDeleteThere are still products out there (like mitts) that a woman can use to basically sand the hair off her legs, but I can say from experience that it is not only slow, but harsh!
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