{{Short description|YouTube channel and associated blog}} {{Redirect|Primitive technology|early uses of technology|History of technology}} {{EngvarB|date=November 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}} {{see|Low technology}} {{Infobox youtube channel | name = Primitive Technology | image = Primitive Technology logo.png | caption = | logo = | logo caption = | channel_name = | birth_name = | birth_date = | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | occupation = | website = {{URL|https://primitivetechnology.wordpress.com/}} | youtube_id = UCAL3JXZSzSm8AlZyD3nQdBA | youtube_display_name = Primitive Technology
| youtube_years_active = 2015–2020, 2022–present | youtube_genre = | youtube_subscribers = 11 million<!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE WITHOUT UPDATING stats_update BELOW --> | youtube_views = 1.21 billion<!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE WITHOUT UPDATING stats_update BELOW --> | stats_update = 21 March 2026 }}
'''Primitive Technology''' is a YouTube channel run by '''John Plant'''. Based in Far North Queensland, Australia, the series demonstrates the process of making tools and buildings using only materials found in the wild. Created in May 2015, the channel has gained over 10.9 million subscribers and over 1.17 billion views as of June 2025.
==Background== Plant describes his subject as a hobby,<ref name = "Mooney" /> and he "lives in a modern house and eats modern food".<ref name="Wordpress-official">{{cite web|url=https://primitivetechnology.wordpress.com/about/|title=Primitive Technology Wordpress blog 'About' page|work=Primitive Technology website|date=7 July 2015|accessdate=21 November 2016|archive-date=14 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514093357/https://primitivetechnology.wordpress.com/about/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=BBC/> He stated in a comment on a January 2018 video that he owns the land on which he films the videos.<ref name="youtube-private-land">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7985zBEM3o&lc=Ugz8LVkQMApfhmsJ1lN4AaABAg.8bbr-k69_QU8bbtjVJklQC|title=Primitive Technology's highlighted reply|website=YouTube|date=19 January 2018|accessdate=21 Jan 2018}}</ref> He states on his website that he has no Aboriginal ancestry and has not received military training.<ref name="Mooney">{{cite news|url=http://www.inquisitr.com/2815630/primitive-technology-youtube-guy-gets-31-million-views-whats-the-name-of-shirtless-silent-australian-man-in-the-videos/|title=Primitive Technology' YouTube Guy Gets 31 Million Views: What's The Name Of Shirtless, Silent Australian Man In The Videos?|last=Mooney|first=Paula|date=21 February 2016|work=Inquisitr|accessdate=21 November 2016|archive-date=30 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530154841/https://www.inquisitr.com/2815630/primitive-technology-youtube-guy-gets-31-million-views-whats-the-name-of-shirtless-silent-australian-man-in-the-videos/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In a correspondence with Michelle Castillo of CNBC in 2018, Plant stated that he was in his mid 30s. He also said he went to university and received a Bachelor of Science degree but "didn't do anything with it",<ref name=CNBC>{{cite web|last1=Castillo|first1=Michelle|title=How a YouTube star gained 5.4 million followers by mimicking the Stone Age|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/15/youtube-primitive-technology-shows-john-plant-living-in-the-stone-age.html|publisher=CNBC|accessdate=23 September 2017|date=15 September 2017|archive-date=23 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180523133056/https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/15/youtube-primitive-technology-shows-john-plant-living-in-the-stone-age.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and instead mowed lawns for a living while going out into the bush in his spare time to practice his hobby.<ref name=BBC>{{cite web|url =https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-45118653|title =What is 'primitive technology' and why do we love it?|first =George|last =Pierpoint|publisher =BBC News|date =27 August 2018|access-date =9 September 2018|archive-date =24 November 2018|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20181124182815/https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-45118653|url-status =live}}</ref> He stated his affinity for subsisting off nature began at a young age: at 11, he would make huts by a creek behind his house using only natural materials.<ref name=CNBC/><ref>{{cite web|url =http://www.spiegel.de/netzwelt/web/primitive-technology-auf-youtube-technik-tipps-aus-der-vorzeit-a-1170181.html|title =Primitive Technology auf YouTube: Technik-Tipps aus der Vorzeit|author =Staff writer(s)|website =Der Spiegel|date =2 October 2017|access-date =29 November 2017|archive-date =22 June 2018|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20180622112706/http://www.spiegel.de/netzwelt/web/primitive-technology-auf-youtube-technik-tipps-aus-der-vorzeit-a-1170181.html|url-status =live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url =https://www.aargauerzeitung.ch/panorama/vermischtes/nackter-oberkoerper-und-zwei-geschickte-haende-steinzeit-handwerker-wird-zum-youtube-star-131751630|title =Nackter Oberkörper und zwei geschickte Hände: Steinzeit-Handwerker wird zum Youtube-Star|author =Staff writer(s)|website =Aargauer Zeitung|date =28 September 2017|access-date =29 November 2017|archive-date =9 February 2019|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20190209040240/https://www.aargauerzeitung.ch/panorama/vermischtes/nackter-oberkoerper-und-zwei-geschickte-haende-steinzeit-handwerker-wird-zum-youtube-star-131751630|url-status =dead}}</ref>
==Description== Each video provides a closed-caption narrated account of the progress of one or more projects demonstrating the techniques and methods used to create tools or buildings.<ref name="nyt-letter">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/01/magazine/letter-of-recommendation-primitive-technology.html|title=Letter of Recommendation: 'Primitive Technology'|first=Jennifer|last=Kahn|date=1 December 2016|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=22 August 2017|archive-date=30 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530154830/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/01/magazine/letter-of-recommendation-primitive-technology.html|url-status=live}}</ref> As he explains on his blog, he builds "completely from scratch using no modern tools or materials", only using what he can source from his natural environment, such as plant materials, clay, soil, and stones; creating a self-contained progression of accessible technique and implements for the projects.<ref name="Wordpress-official"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.elmundo.es/f5/comparte/2017/08/04/5980626d46163f20778b4614.html|title='Youtuber' primitivo: Internet se rinde al canal de este 'McGyver' prehistórico|website=El Mundo|date=4 August 2017|access-date=22 August 2017|archive-date=30 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530154836/https://www.elmundo.es/f5/comparte/2017/08/04/5980626d46163f20778b4614.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Episodes of the series contain no speaking, and only minimal ambient sound, usually focusing on the natural sounds of wildlife, weather, and the creek which runs near the site. Mr. Plant often records his videos wearing little except his cargo shorts, and crafted items such as handwoven cordage sandals.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-WYT2UotIc | title=Primitive Technology: Sandals | website=YouTube | date=30 July 2017 }}</ref>
==History==
===Blog=== In June 2015, Plant created the Primitive Technology blog on WordPress. That blog was a primary source of his videos through November 2018 when he posted the "Iron Prills" video,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyGLE0usN_I|title = Primitive Technology: Iron prills|website = YouTube| date=17 August 2018 }}</ref> whereupon Plant moved exclusively to YouTube.{{fact|date=March 2024}}
===YouTube channel=== Plant created the Primitive Technology channel in May 2015. The first video was uploaded on 1 May 2015. Since that time, each of his videos has garnered millions of views. The channel amassed 5.4 million subscribers and 350 million views by September 2017,<ref name=CNBC/> increasing to 8.7 million subscribers and 615 million views by September 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url =https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/technology/article/stone-age-skills-are-youtube-smash-hit-jpw8jc8ww|title =Stone Age skills are YouTube smash hit|first =Mark|last =Bridge|website =The Times|date =1 September 2018|access-date =9 September 2018|archive-date =21 October 2018|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20181021000305/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/stone-age-skills-are-youtube-smash-hit-jpw8jc8ww|url-status =live}}</ref> As of May 2025, the channel has over 10.9 million subscribers and over 1.17 billion views.
For the first two years of the channel's existence, the man in the videos remained anonymous. In June 2017, he identified himself as John Plant when he complained to Facebook that his videos were being stolen as a result of people reposting them on the website, and that the practice had cost him thousands of Australian dollars.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/caveman-youtube-neolithic-skills-sensation-accuses-facebook-of-theft/news-story/13924d5b27102f8ce1212430c0394257|title=Caveman YouTube neolithic skills sensation accuses Facebook of theft|last=Michael|first=Peter|date=3 June 2017|work=The Sunday Mail|accessdate=23 September 2017|archive-date=10 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220310090655/https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/caveman-youtube-neolithic-skills-sensation-accuses-facebook-of-theft/news-story/13924d5b27102f8ce1212430c0394257|url-status=live}}{{subscription required}}</ref>
===Book=== Plant has authored the 192 page, illustrated, hardcover book ''Primitive Technology: A survivalist's guide to building tools, shelters, and more in the wild'' ({{isbn|9781984823670}}), published by Clarkson Potter on 29 October 2019. The book is "a practical guide to building huts and tools using only natural materials from the wild" containing "50 projects with step-by-step instructions on how to make tools, weapons, shelters, pottery, clothing, and more".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/600727/primitive-technology-by-john-plant/9781984823670/ |title=Primitive Technology by John Plant |website=www.penguinrandomhouse.com |publisher=Penguin Random House |access-date=10 August 2019 |archive-date=10 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810170416/https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/600727/primitive-technology-by-john-plant/9781984823670/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Booktopia - Primitive Technology">{{cite book|title=Booktopia - Primitive Technology|url=https://www.booktopia.com.au/primitive-technology-john-plant/book/9781529104592.html|accessdate=27 October 2020|archive-date=31 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031064833/https://www.booktopia.com.au/primitive-technology-john-plant/book/9781529104592.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Hiatus and return to YouTube=== After a video on 13 December 2019, no new videos were uploaded to Primitive Technology in the usual timeframe. On 28 May 2020, a post explaining the hiatus was posted to a Reddit community maintained by fans of the Primitive Technology channel. The post stated that Plant was taking a break from YouTube because he was working on a project for a cable network.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/PrimitiveTechnology/comments/gscvv8/an_update_on_primitive_technology_and_johns/ |title=An update on Primitive Technology |access-date=31 May 2020 |archive-date=20 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120223917/https://www.reddit.com/r/PrimitiveTechnology/comments/gscvv8/an_update_on_primitive_technology_and_johns/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Another post on 8 February 2021, explained that Plant shot a pilot episode for the project but the network wanted to change the format, and that Plant could not share any more information. In his free time, Plant was still recording new material, but he did not want to post it if he deemed it not high enough quality.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/PrimitiveTechnology/comments/lfsq04/a_new_update_on_primitive_technology_and_johns/ |title=A new update on Primitive Technology and John's well-being |access-date=30 August 2021 |archive-date=30 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210830093639/https://www.reddit.com/r/PrimitiveTechnology/comments/lfsq04/a_new_update_on_primitive_technology_and_johns/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On 2 March 2022, Plant posted his first video in over two years, titled ''Primitive Technology: Thatched Workshop''.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tZLCCLMws4|title = Primitive Technology: Thatched Workshop|website = YouTube|date = 2 March 2022|access-date = 3 March 2022|archive-date = 3 March 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220303045604/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tZLCCLMws4|url-status = live}}</ref> He continues to upload videos monthly.
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://primitivetechnology.wordpress.com/about/ Official website]
Category:Australian YouTubers Category:People from Queensland Category:Viral videos Category:YouTube original programming