Vikings Used a Gross Survival Firestarter. Here’s How to Make It

Did you ever wonder how people started fires before matches and waterproof lighters?  Some would use friction-based fire starting methods.

But if you’ve ever tried making a fire with a bow drill or flint, you know that it isn’t easy.  More importantly, you need a good tinder that will easily catch fire.

The Vikings found a unique – and gross – solution for this.

A Urine-Soaked Tinder Made from Mushroomsviking tinder fungus

 

To start fires, the Vikings would use a type of fungus called Fomes fomentarius, which is found in Europe, North America, and Asia.

It is better known as Tinder Fungus, Hoof Fungus, Touchwood, or False Tinder Fungus.

Now, a lot of fungi make great tinder for starting fires with sparks.  But the Vikings didn’t just carry around the Tinder Fungus.  They transformed it into something even more ignitable.

First, the Vikings would prepare the Tinder Fungus by cutting away the exterior pieces.  The interior pieces were cut into thin slices.

The fungus slices were beaten until they started to become soft, flexible, and resemble felt.

The fungi “felt” was charred in the same way that char cloth is made – by burning it in an oxygen-less container.   Making char cloth isn’t anything new to survivalists. But the Vikings took it a step further.

They boiled their fungus char cloth in urine!

Why Urine?

Urine contains sodium nitrate, which has very similar chemical properties as potassium nitrate (the “saltpeter” found in gunpowder”).

Because their char cloth was boiled in urine, the Vikings could light the charred fungus.  It would hold smolder for days on end. The fact that it smoldered without burning was key!

This meant that they could carry the fire source with them wherever they went.  When it was time to start a fire, they could blow on it to get it flaming and light their tinder.  It was a heck of a lot easier than making a new spark each time they needed a fire.

The Vikings Weren’t the Only Ones to Use Tinder Fungus

While the Vikings are the only ones I know of who soaked Tinder Fungus in urine, many ancient people used fungi as tinder.

Even Otzi, the Iceman who lived over 5,000 years ago, was found to have 4 pieces of Tinder Fungus in with his gear for fire-starting!

As one researcher noted, “The fungus must have been very important to the Iceman for him to carry it in a special pouch for such a long distance.”

How to Use Tinder Fungus to Start a Fire

If you don’t feel like using the gross Viking method to start a fire, you can still use Tinder Fungus. (Actually, I don’t find urine gross at all.  It is mostly sterile, but I realize most people don’t like touching bodily fluids)

Fungus beats most other natural forms of tinder.  Unlike other natural combustibles – such as sawdust, dried grass, or wood shavings – dried Tinder Fungus can be ignited with a single spark.

The smoldering fungus then can be used to start a fire.

1. Find Your Tinder Fungus

Tinder Fungi
Lots of types of fungi work as tinder

Tinder Fungus grows on trees.  You can also use other fungi for fire starting.  The species Inonotus obliquus is great for tinder.  It is found on birch trees and looks like a glob of black hardwood.

*Identifying mushrooms can be challenging.  Plus, some types of mushrooms in the same family will work for fire-starting, whereas others won’t.  A fun way to improve your survival skills is to go into the wild and try making a fire with various fungi that you find growing on trees.  You’ll learn the best fire-starting fungi the same way our ancient ancestors did!

2. Shave Away the Outside

The part of the mushroom that you use for fire-starting is on the inside.  Use your survival knife to peel away the exterior.

Some Tinder Fungi are really crumbly inside.  You can break apart the fungus interiors right away for making a fire.  Or you can take the entire fungus with you for later use.

Another option is to keep the fungus intact and use it for carrying a coal from one location to another.

Fungus firestarter
The interior part of the fungus is used for tinder

 

3. Break the Fungus into Strips or Flakes

You can do this with your fingers or knife, depending on the type of fungus you are using.tinder fungus for firestarting

 

4. Make a Spark Over the Fungus Flakes

These should start smoldering with just one or two sparks!  Read this post on how to use a Ferro rod firestarter.  You can also use another friction fire-starting method with Tinder fungus. Just put the fungus flakes near the friction source.starting fire with tinder fungus

 

5. Use the Smoldering Fungus to Light Tinder

Your smoldering tinder can be used to ignite dry grass, leaves, or other tinder.  From there, you light your kindling and have a fire going!

What other fire-starting tinder can you recommend? Let us know in the comments.

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  1. In Florida I use the hairy fluff found at the base of a young palmetto shoot. It won’t light with a magnifying glass bit does take a coal and is essential tinder of my birds nest. I also found fungus similar looking to the horse hoof that will easily light with a magnifying glass and smolders “forever” as you described in the article.

    Reply
  2. Please do not think I am trying to be a “SMART MOUTH), I really want to know. In Otzi’s bag the Amadou mushroom was charred were Viking fire starting mushrooms charred? To make charred cloth we put it in fabric in a clean paint can with a nail hole in it and cook it in a fire until it is charred. How would Otzi or the Vikings done this. What is your evidence source? Please keep up your GOOD work.

    Reply
    • How did Otzi make char? I’m honestly not sure. I’d imagine they would have done it in the same way that people today do when they don’t have a can/tin to use: just surround the entire thing (such as by digging a hole or making an earth mound -http://www.fao.org/3/x5328e/x5328e07.htm). As for the source, see this: https://www.vikinganswerlady.com/fire.shtml

      Reply
      • There is evidence of fire being carried in horns from place to place. Cover that horn while its burning and the contents gets charred

        Reply

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