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Skinning
The process began with killing—ideally, the animal died with minimal hide damage. Arrows, spears, traps that crushed or tore hide reduced its value. Clean kill was economic as well as ethical consideration.
Skinning occurred as soon as possible after death, while hide remained pliable and before decomposition advanced. The technique required sharp knife and careful work—cutting through connecting tissues without nicking hide itself, working methodically from initial opening incision outward, peeling hide away from carcass.
For fur-bearing animals, the skinning preserved fur intact. The hide was peeled carefully, turned inside-out like removing sock, keeping fur on outside and minimizing cuts that would weaken final product. For animals valued primarily for leather, skinning was faster—hide didn’t need to be perfect, small cuts acceptable, focus on speed before decomposition advanced.
Initial Cleaning
Once removed, the hide was immediately cleaned. Attached flesh, fat, and membrane were scraped away using specialized scraping tools—stone, bone, or metal blades set at precise angle. Too aggressive and the hide was damaged. Too gentle and material remained that would cause rot.
The scraping was physical labor—requiring strength, producing sore arms and back, continuing until hide was clean. For large animal hides, this took hours. For small animals, it was completed quickly but still required care and attention.
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