The Abo way is in a pit, burying the spalls, bifaces and flakes under sand or dirt, from several to about six inches deep. A campfire is built. The next day the coals are scraped away from the surface and dried out soil is removed. The spalls or bifaces are layered in and the soil is replaced. Then the coals are placed back over and more fuel is added so that the coals remain for up to twelve hours.

After a day or two the stone is dug up and checked to see if it has been heat treated to satisfaction. Temperatures range depending on stone thickness. A good place to start is that a 1" biface buried 1" gets about to 600 - 650 degrees. For each 1/2" deeper temperature drops 50 degrees. Thicker stone needs less heat, thinner stone needs more to reach the same 600 - 650 degree results. Don't discount the use of charcoal. It makes a great abo fire!

• Ioway Nation
• Making a Survival Bow
• Indian Nations
• Traditional Indian Ways
• Ancient Ways

White Tailed deer backstrap sinew can be processed without pounding. Take your dried sinew and wring it back and fourth between your hands. It will easily separate into long slender threads.

They work exceptionally well for sewing garments, bow strings, attaching stone points, wrapping feathers, reinforcing self nocks or any number of ABO hafting jobs. I regard these sinews as prized possessions and guard them because of the longer threads that can be obtained and the inability to obtain them in any quantity without mortgaging the house.