"Oh dem bones, oh dem bones, oh dem jee-umpin bones"
 Sorry, couldn't resist repeating the lines of that old song because this issue is going to discuss bone and its many uses. Bone is a great material to use for so many things. Historically and prehistorically it has been used for tools and decorative items. In the survival situation it can be very useful. Working bone can be a little tricky especially with no power tools. One of the main things to keep in mind when working with bone is its molecular structure. Bones have a spiraling molecular structure and when broken causes it to splinter and snap in an unpredictable manner. If you are working with bone you must score and break or saw. Drilling, grinding and polishing will put the final touches on a project. I have used bone from many types of animals and found most animal bone is useful. Some bone is very dense and hard like the Alligator jaw bone used by the Seminole to make knives from. Hollow bird bones are useful for awls, whistles and sawing up into nice natural beads. I was once admiring a necklace of a Lumbee friend of mine and asked him what the beads were made from and he made me laugh hysterically when he told me "KFC!" Cow bone is easy to obtain and has multiple uses. Don't throw away those steak bones! The butcher will often save bones for you if you ask. If you are a deer hunter or know any deer hunters deer bone is an amazing material to work with. Once you start working with bone you will never look at bone the same again. You will find yourself examining and imagining the possibilities of every bone you eat the meat off of! In a survival situation or a walk in the woods keep your eyes open for bones. I found a whole cow skeleton in the woods recently. The bones were clean as could be where the forest animals had eaten their fill and the insects finished up the rest.
 Bone usually isn't already clean for you though and may take some cleaning and processing on your own. One way is to boil the meat and remaining sinew off till it is falling off the bone. I really have not noticed any difference in how strong bone is cooked or uncooked. I have not noticed any difference in how the bone reacted when modifying it. If anyone has any discussion or experience differently please let me know. Given the choice I like raw bone though. Another way that I clean bone that has worked very well for me is to place it on an ant mound. It is best to put the bone in some kind of cage and stake it down so dogs won't carry them away and I usually pour a little sugar water or syrup on them to entice the ants to get busy. After the ants have cleaned up the bones for me I usually soak them awhile in bleach and water. Don't leave them over night in bleach though. This will weaken the bone and often dissolve thinner bones away. I have seen some nice skulls fall apart from soaking them too long. Another method is burying the bones and letting the decaying properties of the dirt and underground insects clean them up. If you use this method bury them deep enough so dogs won't smell them and dig them up and carry them away. Also don't leave them buried too long, a month at most before you check on them. Depending on your temperate zone they can decay away and be useless by the time you dig them up. Also mark where they are buried so you can find them later. Another method is just to tediously clean them with your pocket knife. And in a survival situation you may have to use them as they are.
It is useful to study the anatomy of an animal you are working with like the labeled deer skeleton here:
In the lowest part of the deer leg that some consider to be its foot, from that last joint to the bottom of its hoof alone are many useful parts. The tiny piece of hide may be preserved with the dew claws to  make a nice little medicine bag, the sinew is useful for sewing or securing an arrow point, the larger bone can be used for an awl or fleshing tool, there is one tiny bone that has a ball on top of it and a natural sharp point on the other that makes it a great little natural needle.
Various items made from bone: 2) Turtle shell. 3) Top of deer skull & bone hairpipe beads. 5) Bone hairpipe beads dyed with coffee 3 band choker.
 
 
The toe bone of a deer or phalange when scored and ground correctly can yield two nice j shaped fish hooks.
Here are some bone tools I use when tanning deer hides:
 
These Maori fish hooks have became a popular item for jewelry:
 
Bone may be used for gorge hooks and barbs on fishing spears also:
 
 REVIEW ON PREPPER CAMP
Once a year over past 6 years Orchard Lake Campground in Saluda, NC holds the biggest prepper event in the whole United States. This event is organized by Rick Austin and Survivor Jane, well known and respected names in the prepper and survival skills community. I have attended this event for two years and taught this year on primitive hunting weaponry and improvised weapons. I also taught a session on getting your mind right. This was and is an outstanding event that gathers some of the greatest teachers on a variety of preparedness subjects. It is also a great place to buy gear, everything form camping gear to solar panels. It is a three day event I highly recommend. It is held the last weekend of September every year and sells out a couple of months before the even so when the tickets go on sale next year get your tickets as soon as possible. Also the earlier you buy them the better the price is. It is on the average only $75 for all three days. Once in you can attend all classes at no additional cost. It is a great time. To keep up with this event they have a website at PrepperCamp.com.
 
BOOK REVIEW
365 DAYS OF SURVIVAL
By Captive Audience
I met these folks at Prepper Camp in Saluda, NC this year and was very impressed by their presentation. They focused on the very important topic of surviving a kidnapping, escaping an enemy and survival. They showed how to escape from handcuffs, ire ties and other situations. This book is outstanding. It has 365 tips and techniques covering a variety of situations and how to survive. I recommend this book highly. It is full of useful information and tips.
...AND MORE!!
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