Originally published at: Found: 6,000-year-old feathered dart coated with secretion from beaver's anal sac | Boing Boing
…
2 Likes
Someone did a taste test didn’t they.
7 Likes
Yessir, learn sumpin’ new everyday.
3 Likes
Fun fact - beaver anal sac secretion is used to make some kinds of artificial vanilla flavoring.
yum.
13 Likes
Lucky for you, Tamworth Distilling has brought back Eau de Musc for a second bottling.
I’ve got a bottle, it’s quite tasty.
3 Likes
The annals of history never cease to amaze!
I always wonder when about these types of discoveries. I mean who in the ancient world thought of this first? Was it a dare? Were the beavers in on it? Were there discussions?
“castoreum is a sticky, semi-liquid paste and becomes solid with a waxy to resinous texture as it dries,” according to the study.
sooo… it was used as a ‘glue’ to stick/align the feathers to the dart? (or fletch them, if you will?)
5 Likes
6 Likes
Anals?
10 Likes
The researchers aren’t sure why the anal secretion was applied to the dart
Because someone shot a beaver?
Come and listen to my story about a man named Jed
A poor hunter-gatherer, barely kept his family fed,
And then one day he was shootin at some food,
And up through the butt come a bubblin crude.
5 Likes
But can it be used to make a tuna sandwich?
3 Likes
Boring! I’m imagine them trying to stuff a beaver into a blowgun. Vicious when it connects, but take a lot of air to shift it.
7 Likes
I don’t know how difficult it is to harvest actual vanilla beans but surely it isn’t that difficult.
4 Likes
Actually,
3 Likes
Oh man, that’s great, been wondering where I put that.
Nope, you paid extra for that natural vanilla flavor.
1 Like
The what of history?
1 Like
Who said it’s difficult? You just have to find a beaver who likes that kind of thing and ensure it provides active and vigorous consent.
4 Likes
