Flintknapping Fundamentals

What is Flintknapping?


point Flintknapping is one of the methods by which people work stone into tools. Its is also called Flaking or Chipping. It involves striking or pushing carefully controlled flakes off of the stone being worked. This can be done in a variety of ways, including 'direct percussion' which is simply hitting the rock with another rock (Hard Hammering) or a billet made of antler, wood, or similar material (Soft Hammering). In contrast to direct percussion, there is 'indirect percussion' which makes use of a punch between the rock which is being struck and the hammer doing the striking. The final common method of removing flakes is 'pressure flaking'. Pressure flaking is usually done in the final stages of tool manufacture, by using a pressure flaker made of antler or (more common today) copper. Tim Knapping Pressure flaking, in essence, involves 'pushing' flakes off of the piece being worked by the application of force to a precise point on the tool edge. A variety of other techniques, which make use of levers and anvils are less common but not unknown.

I said that Flintknapping is ONE of the methods by which people work stone into tools, another common technique involves grinding or abrading the stone down. This process involves a combination of pecking, grinding, or polishing the stone into shape. Tools produced in this fashion are generically refered to as Ground Stone Tools.

A popular misconception is the myth that stone tools were made by using fire and water. This is completely false. It is also terribly dangerous. Heating a rock and dropping cold water on it creates unpredictable fractures and sends shards flying dangerously and violently. NEVER NEVER NEVER try to flake stone using this method. I once saw a list of materials needed to get starting in flintknapping which included a bunsen burner, metal tongs, and a fire extinguisher. By the time you leave this page you will understand how ludicrous this is.

Safety

ASK YOUR PARENTS PERMISSION BEFORE YOU TRY FLINTKNAPPING

Always Wear Safety GlassesIt would be irresponsible of me to begin talking about flintknapping without mentioning safety. Flintknapping is not dangerous, if you are careful and are aware of just how sharp flakes can be. Blades of obsidian (volcanic glass) are used by optical surgeons because they are far sharper than any industrial steel can ever hope to be. You can think of the flakes flintknappers make as broken glass, because, in effect, they are. Safety glasses or goggles should be worn AT ALL TIMES and a supply of band-aids should be kept on hand. If you flintknap, you will cut yourself. There is no way to avoid it. But by using common sense you can avoid serious injury. DO NOT test the sharpness of flakes on yourself, your little sister, your spouse, your neighbor's spouse, or your pet; they will cut you. Keep your workspace clean. If you knap inside, sweep up after yourself, or put a tarp or blanket down to catch the shatter. Flakes love bare feet and they will hide in carpets for weeks waiting for you to walk across them on the way to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

From here you can learn about:
Turning Beer Bottles into Arrowhead
Hard Hammer Reduction
Soft Hammer Reduction
Pressure Flaking
Ground Stone Tools

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Additions? Revisions? Omissions? Mail me.
Knappers Anonymous was prepared by Tim Rast and is being updated by Mike Melbourne
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