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Learn
Ancient
Technologies
My mission is to bring the past to life by providing practical and theoretical knowledge of traditional technologies and ancestral skills based on archaeological evidence.
Ancient technologies are powerful tools for understanding human ingenuity. I teach skills such as hide tanning, tool making, and animal processing. My courses, held worldwide, connect you directly to these fascinating techniques. Reach beyond just ‘survive’ to build, create, and thrive using the knowledge of our ancestors.
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A Bit about Me
I grew up in the USA. I have been tanning skins using traditional technologies for over 30 years and grew up practicing outdoor and ancestral skills in the vast tracts of sparsely populated land in Wyoming. I hold a Masters degree in Experimental Archaeology and a PhD dealing with the ‘Microscopic Analysis of Prehistoric Tanning Technologies’ from the University of Exeter, UK. I am an experienced analyst of prehistoric and early historic leather artefacts and now reside in Sweden.
I also have over 15 years experience in public demonstration work in open air museums and educational programmes and provide replication services for exhibitions. I specialise in the replication of artefacts made from primary and secondary animal by-products such as skin, bone, sinew, internal organs, horn, antler and fur.
I spend much of my year teaching hands-on courses and workshops around the world. My courses detail one or more traditional skills over 3 to 7 days of immersive in person learning. I love watching students evolve as they learn a new skill. Discover the sense of self reliance that comes from learning ways to incorporate ancestral skills and bushcraft into your modern life!
Courses
I have taught various groups ranging from bushcrafters to University students for over fifteen years, drawing on my extensive personal experience alongside archaeological context to provide a broad understanding of prehistoric technologies. The result of this journey is the wide range of workshops and courses I now offer!
Private courses available globally
Reach out to discuss a tailored workshop!
BIG NEWS!
Sold out!
7-Day Kangaroo Processing Intensive in Australia!
October 27th to November 2nd - Wangaratta, Victoria
Have you ever wondered what happens to the parts of an animal that don’t make it onto your grocery store shelves?
This 7-day course will provide you with the knowledge you need to break down an animal carcass in an efficient manner, utilizing as much of the animal as possible. You will then have the opportunity to process a raw skin into soft, grain-on leather and learn the techniques needed to stitch this type of soft leather into a useful saw case. Live and learn from an expedition-style base camp run by Bushcraft Survival Australia.
ONLINE COURSES
Ancestral Skills Online: Learn, Connect, Create
Sally Pointer Heritage Education
We are thrilled to announce the launch of our first course!
The Stinging Nettle: Fibre, Cordage, and Crafts Course, led by renowned instructor Sally Pointer, is now available for sign-up worldwide.
Join Sally as she guides you through the fascinating process of transforming humble nettles into strong, versatile cordage and beautiful fibers – a truly foundational skill in primitive technology and natural crafting.
Join The Community
Join my newsletter where I share behind-the-scenes glimpses, practical tips, and other insights to help you deepen your traditional skills.
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