[Terrapreta] Tool Materials

[Kurt Treutlein]

David Hirst .com wrote:
>
>  It occurs to me that our speculations, which I find fascinating and
>  useful, do not mention metals at all. When we contemplate earlier
>  cultures, we often classify them by their metal. Bronze Age, Iron Age
>  etc.. The Stone Age was an earlier one, and was a broad definition of
>  the sorts of technologies used. And there is considerable evidence
>  that some of these technologies were traded quite widely. Flints
>  mined in one part of England are found over a much wider area. And
>  precious metals, like gold, were highly valued, and preserved.
>
>  Yet with the Terra Preta evidence, there seem to be almost no metals
>  (or even stones). That is, a culture seemingly living exclusively on
>  the products of the forest and its soils. Which leaves almost no
>  conventional archaeological evidence.
>
>  Do we know of cultures today that can live in such a way? Axes and
>  knives would be very useful, highly valued, and so presumably,
>  objects of trade.
>
>  A further rich vein of possible speculation, but I hope somebody can
>  point to references or evidence.
>
>  Regards
>
>  David
>
>  David Hirst
>

I was under the impression that obsidian was used for cutting tools.
Anybody else know?

Kurt