[fanfan]

How did ancient people manage to drill smalls holes in shells and such, for jewelery?

[Monkey Face]

Er...
With small drills?
Kinda like the bigger ones they used to make fires with?
If a soft one can make fire, what can a hard one do?

*ducking and running FAST*

[NicknamedBob]

"How did ancient people manage to drill smalls holes in shells and such, for jewelery?"

"Drills" is the correct answer. Bow drills to be specific.

A bow drill is like a toy bow as in bow and arrow. In this case, the "arrow" is twisted around the bowstring, so that when you "saw" with the bow, it spins the arrow.

Now put a seashell on top of the "arrow" to place your hand on, and use the point of the arrow to grind away at the thing you want a hole in.

If you split the arrow and put a bit of sharp rock into the split, then bind it, you will have a serviceable bit to drill with.

You can make holes in seashells, or make buttons out of pieces of bone, and so forth.

The place where the "arrow" is rubbing get hot. That's why a piece of seashell or rock will protect your hand. The work you do generates heat, especially if the drill is dull.

So you can use this same bow drill as a device for generating heat, and if you do it right, with the right materials, you can start a fire.