Birch bark

The strong and water-resistant cardboard-like bark can be easily cut, bent, and sewn, which has made it a valuable building, crafting, and writing material, since pre-historic times.

Removing the outer (light) layer of bark from the trunk of a living tree may not kill it, but probably weakens it and makes it more prone to infections.

Removal of the inner (dark) layer, the phloem, kills the tree by preventing the flow of sap to the roots.

Containers such as wrappings, bags, baskets, boxes, or quivers were made by most societies well before pottery was invented[citation needed].

Other uses include: Birch bark also makes an outstanding tinder, as the inner layers will stay dry even through heavy rainstorms.