Learning how to tie knots is one of the OG summer camp arts and crafts activities, and was likely part of the very first American summer camp experience. We asked Atlas Obscura Course Instructor John Bucher, a mythologist and storyteller, to share two easy-to-learn knots that are practical and have fascinating backstories. Knots have been used since prehistoric times for tasks ranging from basic survival—think building shelters and catching food—to aesthetics, such as clothing and ritual traditions. Early humans likely used natural materials like vines, animal sinews, and plant fibers…
