running – Preindustrial Craftsmanship

Some new yucca fiber sandals. One narrow leaf yucca, after processing, will easily yield one large pair of sandals and straps. Ethnographically and archaeologically, we know this type was worn in northern Mexico, the American southwest, and California. After wearing these and the plaited style, I think the loose fiber provides more padding for rough terrain and better protection against most thorns.

I still prefer my bison rawhide sandals for running and walking. They provide more protection against sharp rocks and thorns. However, the yucca are extremely quiet, especially on hard ground, and much easier to procure than bison.

This is a link to other shoes and sandals I have experimented with. I will get more up in time.

Staples of the ancestors.

I have been away from the wagon quite a bit lately while brewing and bottling beer, traveling to see family, and dealing with a fairly ridiculous amount of hours of low paying work. All while trying to keep current in anthropology by reading recent research and keeping up with playing music when I find time.

On the fun reading side, I was truly impressed with Christopher McDougall’s Born to Run. If you want to know about research on humans as runners, think the athletic shoe industry is a bunch of soulless racketeers, or just think the Tarhuamara Indians of Mexico are cool, then this is a pretty good read. If you are interested in the ever-growing barefoot or minimalist shoe movement, Barefoot Ted’s is a good place to start.