3 ms·

They did chop trees with stone tools. Here you can see how: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BN-34JfUrHY https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BN-34JfUrHY

• chrisco255 7y ago
  Yes well I'm talking about chopping trees down and building homes out of them (and enough homes for a civilization). No doubt smaller sticks and loose timber could be used, that's how man mastered fire in the first place. But chopping whole trees probably didn't happen much until after metal.
  • mkl 7y ago
    You can build enough homes for a civilisation without felling any big trees at all. Stone, clay bricks, earth, small trees and branches, straw, etc. would be sufficient. Even felling big trees doesn't need iron tools - controlled fire will do most of the work: http://www.cherokeeheritage.org/attractions/dugout-canoe/ http://www.cherokeeheritage.org/attractions/dugout-canoe/
    • chrisco255 7y ago
      That looks extremely laborious but it's a fascinating technique. It still limits the amount of lumber one group can use. I agree on clay (in some regions) and stone being available and useable. It still says nothing about supporting a civilization, which requires agriculture.
      • mkl 7y ago
        You're moving goalposts, but early civilisations supported themselves with agriculture before developing metal-working: https://genographic.nationalgeographic.com/development-of-agriculture/ https://genographic.nationalgeographic.com/development-of-ag... https://www.ancient.eu/Stone_Age/ https://www.ancient.eu/Stone_Age/
  • reallydude 7y ago
    > Yes well I'm talking about chopping trees down and building homes out of them https://youtu.be/zVPUFMwm73Y?t=228 https://youtu.be/zVPUFMwm73Y?t=228 Relevant: Coppice