The History of Knots
Introduction
Knots surround us! From our shoelaces and neckties to complicated surgical procedures, knots come in handy in countless situations.
Looking back in time, the earliest fossilized fragments of ropes and knots date back 15,000 to 17,000 years ago. This means knot technology is much older than the wheel or the axe. To name a few, knots have been a critical element of important innovations like fishing nets, hunting traps and basket making (De Decker, 2010). Although it's easy to overlook, knots are the fundamental basis of these creations.
Knots Through Time
With the growth of civilizations, the use of ropes and knots was imperative to the creation of structures, especially with the development of cranes and lifting devices.
Knots were also important in record keeping. The Inca, an empire that flourished in the Andean region of South America, used an intricate knotted textile system called Khipu. Although there is much to discover, it's generally known that the system was used to record information like census data and calendar systems.
Sailing & Knots
In the world of sailing, a nautical mile is used to chart and navigate a body of water. 1 nautical mile = 1.15 land measured miles. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has a detailed explanation of the system:
"The term knot dates from the 17th Century, when sailors measured the speed of their ship by the use of a device called a 'common log.' This device was a coil of rope with uniformly spaced knots tied in it, attached to a piece of wood shaped like a slice of pie. The piece of wood was lowered from the back of the ship and allowed to float behind it. The line was allowed to pay out freely from the coil as the piece of wood fell behind the ship for a specific amount of time. When the specified time had passed, the line was pulled in and the number of knots on the rope between the ship and the wood were counted. The speed of the ship was said to be the number of knots counted (Bowditch, 1984)."
Knots in the Outdoors
Knots have countless applications in the outdoors. Along with many other activities, they are used widely in rock climbing, boating, hiking and fishing. The ability to quickly and efficiently tie a durable knot can be a lifesaver when it comes to attaching ropes together or securing your canoe to shore.
Now that you're caught up with the knot background, it's time to learn how to tie your own! Knots are fun and a great way to expand your outdoor knowledge.