Final answer:
Old bull skins were used for blankets and robust items due to their thick and heavy nature, while calf skins were lighter and used for clothing. Practices like bull-leaping from ancient times might have utilized the durable skins from older bulls, whereas brain-tanning with softer, younger skins was used for delicate items.
Step-by-step explanation:
The skins of old bulls and the skins of younger animals such as calves were used differently due to the variations in their texture and durability. The thick, heavy buffalo skins of older bulls were especially valued for their insulating properties, making them ideal for use as blankets in cold winters or for other items that required a robust material.
In contrast, the skins of calves, being lighter and thinner, were more suitable for clothing. This distinction is evident in historical practices such as those observed in the Neolithic city of Çatalhöyük, where bull symbols like bucrania might have held special cultural significance.
When considering the use of animal skins in ancient times, it is important to understand the cultural and practical contexts. For example, in the passage describing the practice of bull-leaping, the durability of the older bulls' skins could have implied their utility in crafting items necessary for such an activity.
In more domestic contexts, as with the preparation of hides demonstrated by the women, the softer skins from younger animals could be treated using the brain-tanning technique to create more delicate items like clothing and accessories, attesting to the diversity in the use of animal hides based on age.