[chmod775]

> You need to create string.

That region typically used flax for string. That's another thing that can be done with virtually no tools.

Even if you skip the retting and merely hand-strip the fibers you still get something usable enough for some use.

These people didn't sit inside looking at screens all day. If your region had a plant that can be trivially turned into usable string you'd know - especially since they had contact/trade with neighboring Asia and there's evidence of flax processing in Georgia another 30k years earlier.

> I suspect the average person would struggle to make fire, let alone hand tools.

It took us maybe a few days of experimenting to finally figure out as boys. We used some modern string, random sticks, and an assortment of materials to try to start a fire with. It's harder than it seems, but not much so if you're determined. If some bored 8 year olds can do it, then so can anyone of any era.

I don't think the linage of anyone for whom that was truly so unattainable would have survived to this day.

[chmod775]

> That region typically used flax for string.

Replying to myself because I looked into this a bit. Looks like date palm fiber might have been more common for rope (likely much easier to make if you needed a lot).

For this use-case probably nowhere near as good though.

[jcgrillo]

I've made bowdrills for fire starting with hand twisted hickory cordage. Soaking the bark makes it easy to separate the inner bark, which you then tear into long strips and twist into rope with a "reverse wrap"--basically twist until it curls back on itself then give the "bundle" a half twist back to lock it in. I'm sure many species of tree would work similarly.

That is to say there's nothing special about rope, you can make it with nothing but your bare hands.