Crafting a Primitive Fat Lamp

Using native stone to craft an aboriginal fat lamp, like those used in Stone-Age Europe and byt the Aleut and Inuit peoples of the Arctic. Two local stones were used in the creation of the lamp: Sandstone, and a fragment of harder microcrystalline Volcanic Granite. The sandstone will form the lamp and the granite will serve as a tool to form the fat divot. In this photo I have begun the process of augering the divot:

Forming the divot

 

The granite auger was chosen for it's natural drill shape. It was sharp-edged as found and no modification was needed to form it into a tool. Here, I am forming the divot with the drill piece:

 

Drilling  stone

 

In this next photograph, I have formed a wick from some Jute cordage:

Forming a wick

 

The completed lamp in operation:

 

Cave heating, 38,000 B.C.

 

A small amount of animal fat drippings, maybe 2 tablespoons, was collected and poured into the divot. the jute wick was soaked in the fat and ignited. This lamp ran for around 30 or 40 minutes on the small amount of fat. The stone became very warm and could be used to warm the hands or sore muscles. 

 

GOBLIN RANGER