The Bow drill reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Jul-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Bow drill

The bow drill has been used used by ancient Sumerians and other groups to drill holes in a piece of wood, the drill stick, into another piece of wood, the hearth, with the help of a bow. The heat thereby produced by friction would set nearby dust and tinder aflame.

Bow drills can also be used with a drill bit to bore a hole in wood for woodworking purposes.

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