Ritual fire making
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Summary
Davidson, T. (1955) The Needfire Ritual, Antiquity, 29(115), pp. 132–6.
‘The simplest method seems to be that used on the islands of Skye, Mull and Tiree. A well-seasoned piank of oak was procured and a hole drilled in the centre. A wimble of the same wood was inserted into the hole and so rotated. In some parts of the islands green wood was used, with an axle tree through it, and three times three persons, or three times nine were required for turning round by turns the wimble or axle tree (9).’
‘The simplest method seems to be that used on the islands of Skye, Mull and Tiree. A well-seasoned piank of oak was procured and a hole drilled in the centre. A wimble of the same wood was inserted into the hole and so rotated. In some parts of the islands green wood was used, with an axle tree through it, and three times three persons, or three times nine were required for turning round by turns the wimble or axle tree (9).’
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