Animal fat

In most of the Bronze Age societies in Arikanda, it has become necessary to use sources of light beyond great bonfires or burning sticks. Smaller, more portable forms of light are needed, particularly inside buildings at night. To that end, fuel outside of the traditional wood or coal was needed. Sporadically throughout the history of Arikanda, it was discovered that animal fat could be rendered and burned as a source of small flames, allowing a portable indoor light source to be used without running the risk of burning down one's own house. From there, it was discovered fat had a number of other uses, such as greasing metal components and making soaps.

Properties

Geology & Geography

Animal fats are one of the few resources in Arikanda that are almost universal in supply. Generally anywhere you can hunt or farm an animal, you'll have a supply of animal fat.

History & Usage

History

Animal fats have been used in some form since long before humans began smelting metal. However its usefulness on a universal scale peaked in the Neolithic, when the humans of Arikanda developed agriculture and began to develop permanent settlements. In the Bronze Age, it has become an essential supply; people need to work, play and live in dark closed spaces, and people now need to grease implements.

Discovery

It is impossible to say who first discovered a use for animal fat; the discovery potentially goes back hundreds of thousands of years. Even its use in lamps and candles seems to have been discovered spontaneously across multiple cultures across Arikanda.

Everyday use

Animal fat has a variety of uses in Arikandan society; primarily, it can be melted and placed in stone or bronze lamps to provide fuel for a flame, or it can be sculpted into a candle. It is also used in a variety of other applications, such as a lubricant/grease or for cooking purposes. It can also be used to create soap.

Refinement

To make it usable, animal fat needs to go through a rendering process to turn the fat into usable material. This is usually done in large bronze kettles over open flames.

Distribution

Trade & Market

Farmers often sell animal fat as a by-product of their animal produce, usually sold directly at the local market. It is considered an essential supply.

Type

Biomaterial

Color

White/yellow/cream