flint knapping 20 - stonebreaker-fsc.net · flint knapping 20.12 “mastering the stone” © 2012....

FLINT KNAPPING 20.12“Mastering The Stone”

1© 2012. F. Scott Crawfordwww.StoneBreaker-FSC.netwww.Arrowhead-Maker.com

FLINTKNAPPING20.12

“Mastering The Stone”Correspondence Course, Lesson 1


© 2012. F. Scott Crawfordwww.StoneBreaker-FSC.net

www.Arrowhead-Maker.com

2

FLINT KNAPPING 20.12

“Mastering The Stone”Correspondence Course, Lesson 1

by F. Scott Crawford

Each twice-monthly lesson of“FLINT KNAPPING 20.12”is designed to introduce flint

knapping methods and ideas inan additive order so you will

learn and use themprogressively to begin makingarrowheads for yourself, with

increasing skill and confidenceas you learn and practice.

You and I might have been born into the era offlight and the beginning of the Space Age, but formany of us, our hearts and souls yearn for a simplertime. For a time when survival and accomplish-ment depended on our own effort and skill, on ourmastery of the world around us and the resourceswhich it offers to us.

Rooted Deep In Our Ancient Past

One way this deep desire manifests itself in ourlives is this interest and obsession withmaking stone tools and weapons ... justlike our ancestors did all over theworld, for thousands of all-too-oftenforgotten generations.

Maybe that’s why we gotta break rock!

I say “Go for it!”

Let’s Master Flint Knapping

Let’s learn to master this ancient craftand art which we call “FlintKnapping”.

Enjoy your new-found ability to turnrock and stone into useful tools andhunting weapons!

Rebuild your link with the creativeand resourceful human beings whohave gone before us all.

That’s why I wrote “FLINTKNAPPING 20.12” ... to help us allmake those connections to our historyand to our past.

So, welcome to “FLINT KNAPPING 20.12”!

This is where you will get on that “Fast Track” tolearn the ancient and honorable art and craft ofcreating tools and hunting weapons out of stone ...“Flint Knapping”.

I appreciate the opportunity to share this craft withintelligent and curious people, such as yourself,from around the world, who are interested in maketheir own effort to preserve one of the important

skills of the past and to enjoy thebeauty of the natural stone materialsutilized by our ancestors for manythousands of years in all corners of theworld.

A Debt Of Gratitude Expressed

A word of thanks and a debt of grati-tude is also due to several knappersfrom whom I have learned much overthe years, as mentors and friends; chiefamong them are Craig Ratzat andGreg Nunn. Both are masters of theircraft and outstanding teachers.

Let’s Look At Methods & ThenWe’ll Set Some Goals

In this first lesson if “FLINTKNAPPING 20.12”, I’ll show youseveral aspects of flint knapping andwork with you to set some “Arrow-head Making” goals for you to com-plete in the next few weeks andmonths. Let’s get started.



“FLINT KNAPPING 20.12” Will Show You Basic & AdvancedPercussion And Pressure Flaking For Reduction & Finishing.

A large blade made from “Novaculite”, a water-deposited flint-like material from Arkansas. This is

the fine-grained, “porcelain” Novaculite. Coarsergrained material also knaps well. Much Novaculite

requires heat treatment prior to knapping. This piecewas made by soft hammer percussion, with a little

pressure flaking trim.

A large blade made from “Obsidian”, a volcanic glassfrom eastern Oregon. This piece was a ground pre-form, finished with parallel oblique pressure flaking.It is in a stylized form of a large Midwestern style“Dalton” or Western/Great Basin style “Humboldt”spear or lance point.




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We Will Explore The Methods & Tools For Working WithCommon & Readily Available Types Of Stone For Knapping.Before we can make finished hunting weaponprojectile points such as arrowheads, we need tolearn how to producesmall pieces of workablestone in the right form andsize for the tool we want.

Then we will learn tomodify those small piecesof stone into the specificshape we want. Plus, we’lllearn how to prepare theshaped stone to bind it toits intended shaft orhandle for use.

It’s First Things First

However, to get to thoseultimate finishing steps,we must first learn how tobreak large pieces of stonemost effectively into usefulsmaller pieces.

Only then will we beprepared to concernourselves with actuallyshaping the small pieces.

Therefore, we will practice the effective use ofspecial “hammer stones” to reduce a large chunk of

the proper kind of rock.

Which means we will needto consider how the choiceof tool making stone is soimportant to the success ofour rock breaking work.

Controlled Fracturing

Not only do we need rockwhich can break with asharp edge, but the waythe stone breaks makes adifference. The best stonefor knapping breaks in a“conchoidal” style offracture. We will learnwhat kinds of stone havethis important and reliablecharacteristic which makesflint knapping possible.

Oh, and then, “FLINTKNAPPING 20.12” willintroduce you to “softhammers”!

This is a “Quartzite” Hammerstone found by theauthor in the west Texas Panhandle north of Amarillonear the Canadian River in 1989. You can see the weararound the edge, caused by using this hammerstone tochip the “Alibates Chert” which was quarried in that

region since the Clovis cultural period. AlibatesChert was traded across much of the midwest.



“FLINT KNAPPING 20.12” Will Teach You To Make PreformsFrom Larger Pieces Of Stone, Ready To Finish As Desired.The initial phase of our Flint Knapping process willbegin with a chunk of stone. It can be a large lumpof rock as it is found on the ground, or it could be afair sized piece broken from a large chunk.

In “FLINT KNAPPING 20.12” you will learn howto break a useable size piece of stone from a largechunk. This piece is often called a “spall”. You willlearn how to use a heavy hammerstone or large“soft hammer” tool to properly strike a large chunkin the best places andangles to break off“spalls” to work with.

ALWAYS USE THESAFETY EQUIPMENT

In conjunction with thisspecialized step in theknapping process, youwill also be remindedof the vital and impor-tant protective use ofgloves, leather padsand safety glasses.

As you learn how tocontinue the percussionprocess with a hammer

stone or a “soft hammer”, you will remove mediumand small size chips from the “spall” or chunk.

Preliminary Tool Forms ... Called “Pre-Forms”

This process will provide you with the opportunityto pre-plan what you want to make out of the stone.And it supplies many chips which can be made intosmall tools or projectile points. The main piece ofthe spall which remains is considered a “core” since

it is a source for thosesmaller, useful chips.

This “core” can now befurther shaped bypercussion into thepreliminary shape for alarge tool or blade orprojectile ... known as a“pre-form”.

“Scott makes some of thesmoothest percussion pre-forms I’ve ever seen” ~ CraigRatzat, 2007 Glass ButtesKnappers’ Workshop. Hereis a 6-1/2” Dacite pre-form.The percussion “debitage”provides many chips used tomake smaller arrow points.

An Obsidian projectile point or knife finished with Pressure Flaking.

AnObsidian

“Pre-Form”produced by

Soft HammerPercussion.




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From Beginning The Cortex Removal On This Texas FlintNodule To Finishing This Knife: 1 Hour 20 Minutes.

“I Guarantee It!”If, after 180 days (six months ~ 12 issues) of

“FLINT KNAPPING 20.12” you can not usethe recommended methods and tools to makestone arrowheads you are proud to show your

friends, just send an e-mail to me,([email protected]), the author, and I will

refund every penny of your subscription paid tothat point in time. Keep the personalized

notebook and lessons you have received as mygift to you. No questions. No problems.Period. That’s my “Chiseled in Granite &Chipped in Flint Guarantee!” to you ~ it’stougher than any old Bronze, Iron or even

Space Age refined sugar warranty.

F. Scott Crawford, Carrollton, Texasemail: [email protected]



Extraordinary Works Of Flint Knapping Art & CraftsmanshipCan Intimidate Us, Yet Inspire Our Efforts At The Same Time.Many of us who are interested in “flint knapping”got our start on this journey when we found anarrowhead at some time in our lives. That waswhat first inspired us to wonder: “How was thisstone arrowhead created?” and “Who made it?”

The next step for each of us was: “I wonder if I canmake an arrowhead?”

Now, it’s your turn.

“FLINT KNAPPING 20.12” will helpyou accomplish this objective in aconfident and fulfilling manner. Withstudy and practice, you will learn tosucceed at making stone arrowheads.This will be a satisfying achievement.

HERE’S YOUR FIRSTHOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT

If you have an arrowhead collectionor access to the collection of a friend,spend some time examining thearrowheads which you like.

See if there is a particular shape orstyle of projectile point which youwould really like to be able to makefor yourself.

YOUR MISSION, SHOULD YOU CHOSE TOACCEPT IT: MAKE AN ARROWHEAD LIKE IT

Make a photograph of the arrowhead if you can, ora drawing. Both sides if possible. Hold it, get a feelfor its weight and size. What kind of stone is it?

Note the shape of the base notches or the tangwhich was attached to the arrow shaft. Imagine thediameter of the shaft, and consider how the arrow

point was secured in place.

Now, examine the tip or the barbs. Isthere damage, perhaps created byimpact when the arrow was used?

With all of these details in mind,perhaps you would be thrilled tomake an arrowhead like that one.

YOUR INSPIRATION!

Harness this example as your inspira-tion! We will refer back to this specialpersonal goal in future lessons of“FLINT KNAPPING 20.12”.

Here is a modern-made arrowhead, knappedin the style of the “Gunther Barbed” pointsabove, made from a slice of Chalcedony/Agate.

This matching pair of red & tan Jasper“Gunther Barbed” style arrowheads

was discovered in an apparent cache,in 1970 in Siskiyou County of

northern California, by Pat Welch.The larger arrowhead measures

1-1/2” long by 3/4” wide at the base.




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In “FLINT KNAPPING 20.12” We’ll Study Examples OfAncient Points To Select Patterns To Model In Your Work.By examining ancient arrowheads we will seedifferent styles of form and design, as well asdifferent methods and sequences of work used inthe knapping process.

When we look at the surface of a finished projectilepoint, we can often discover evidence of the original“chip” or “blade” from which the point was manu-factured. This can give us a clue to the method ofcreating the original small piece.

A CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK

Two basic ways were used to make the small pieces.

One was to break a small “chip” off of the face orside of a larger piece. Thiswas more of a randomprocess, and resulted in arelatively wide, fairly flatsurfaced, thin piece.

A PREPARED CORE

The other method utilizedgreater planning andcontrolled application offorce to a prepared surfaceon one side or end of thesource stone, the core. This

method created relatively longer, more uniform“blades”. Either direct or indirect percussion wasused to apply the force of the strike.

Close examination of an ancient arrow or dart pointsometimes shows the original form or type of piece.

BLADES HAVE A FULL LENGTH RIDGE

If one side or surface is essentially flat, and theother has a more pronounced midline ridge alongthe full length of the other face, the original piecemay have been a “blade”. Blades are usually flat onone side with a ridge line along the length of theother face. They tend to be straighter for a greater

portion of their length; andnarrow. This leads to along, narrow arrow point.

Points made from “chips”tend to be relatively widerand flat on both faces of thefinished projectile point.

Here is an obsidian core, withsome blades which were removedfrom the core by percussion on asingle striking surface at one endof the core (inset). The core isstanding on the striking surface.

An Obsidian “Northern Side Notched”dart point, found in Modoc County ofnorthern California in the early 1960’sby Pat Welch. It measures 2-7/16” longby 1-1/16” wide at the base. This couldbe an arrowhead, but it is a little largeat the neck between the notches, which

measures almost 7/16” across.



A Popular Arrowhead Style Which We Will Make Is A SmallerVersion Of The Ancient “Northern Side Notch” Dart Point.Once you have learned to make useful chips andblades from a core piece of stone, we willmove on to preparing the initial stages of asmall projectile point. Progress at last!

You will learn to visualize your arrowheadwhen you look at a “chip” or “blade”.Then you’ll plan the multiple steps used toaccomplish your intended creation.

You’ll produce the pre-form of your point.

Next, you will prepare the edges of thepre-form to make possible the thinningflake removals to create the delicate butdeadly form of the finished arrowhead.

And you will master notching ... after you breakyour fair share of points in the process.

A WORTHY OBJECTIVE FOR YOU

One projectile point project which we willaccomplish together is to produce yourown side notched arrowheads like these.

This side notched arrowhead is made from colorfulPicture Jasper from Oregon. The style is similar tothose arrowheads made by “Ishi”, a Yahi Indianfrom northern California, while he lived the last fewyears of his life at the University of California from1911, when he, as the last of his people, wanderedinto a small rural town and out of the “Stone Age”.

Side notched arrowheads made fromseveral colors of Obsidian, Flint,

Agate and Dacite. Theywere pressure flaked

from flat “chips”and from long,

narrow “blades”.




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You’ll Learn To Create Stone Tools From Natural Rock AndEven Master Exotic Forms Of Man-Made Glass & Crystal.The natural world has many kinds of stone whichcan be made into useful tools and hunting weapons.

The primary characteristic of useful knapping stoneis the way it breaks. This fracturing needs to becontrollable and repeatable. From a practical stand-point, the ideal stone will break in any direction(this makes for better control), and it will be able tohold a sharp edge (this makes it useful).

So, what helps us identify these materials?

UNIFORMITY

An internal struc-ture which issmoothly uniformenables a stone tobe broken in anydirection. This canbe either a non-crystalline ormicro-crystallinestructure. Forinstance, “Flint” isa crystalline form ofwater depositedquartz, but thecrystals are micro-

These Dalton style dartpoints are made fromquartz crystal, createdfor the telecommunica-tions industry. It didnot pass their QualityControl, but it worksfine for knapping.Quartz crystal is a chal-lenge because of thenatural fracture planesof its molecular struc-ture. Pressure flakingcreates a uniquelyrippled scar, a key toidentifying crystal asopposed to glass.

scopic in size, and thus it allows forced fracturing inany direction. Chert, Novaculite, Hornstone,Jasper, Agate, some Petrified Woods and finegrained Quartzite fall into this category. Some ofthese materials benefit from initial heat treatment.

The other major category is non-crystalline, glassymaterial, primarily volcanic in origin. This includesObsidian, Dacite, Rhyolite and man-made Glassproduced from high silica content material. Thesehave already been heat treated! They’re born ready.



What Tools Will You Need To Begin “Flint Knapping”?Where Can You Get Them? I Use & Recommend These:

6” x 3/4” wooden handled3/16” copper-rod tippedPressure Flaking Tool.$3.00 each. Hammerthe tip to resharpen.

Fine or Medium Grit CarborundumGrindstone, to prepare edgesor isolated platforms onknapped stone beforepercussion or pressureflaking. $5.00 each.4” x 2” x 1/2”.Native sandstone,quartzite, or othergritty stone canbe used for thesame purpose.

Deer antler tines for pressureflakers. $3.00 each.

6” by 7/8” Nylon or Dalron handled Robust PressureFlaker, drilled for a 3/16” copper flaking tool. For

heavy duty pressure flaking. Adjusted with 1/8”Allen wrench. Set comes with 3 extra 4” by 3/16”

copper nails for flaking tool and Allen wrench.Hammer the tip to resharpen. Touch up form with a

file. $16.95 for the Robust Pressure Flaker with3/16” copper tool Set.

Also available drilled for 1/8” copper tip for pressureflaking use on small points or as a notching tool.

Set comes with 3 extra 3” by 1/8” copper nails andAllen wrench. $14.95 for the Robust Pressure Flaker

with 1/8” copper tool Set.

Wooden handled, lead-filled copper cap percussion tools,known as “copper boppers” for fine percussion work.SMALL, 1” diameter, 4-1/2” long, $7.00 each.LARGE, 1-1/4” diameter, 4-3/4” long, $9.00 each.

Hand Pads are also available in3” x 5” Buffalo Hide, in single layer or

double layer hand pads.Single Layer Buffalo Hand Pad, $4.50.

Double Layer Buffalo Hand Pad, $9.00.

2-1/2” x 5” Cowhide leather Hand Pad, for use withpressure flaking held in the hand or on a bench.Can be made from larger pieces such as the Lap

Pad, or ordered separately at $1.00 each.

10” x 10” CowhideLeather Lap Pad,draped over thighduring percussionwork. $2.50 each.

Your “FLINT KNAPPER’S PRESSURE FLAKING& PERCUSSION TOOL REQUISITION”

for any of these tools is included with this Lesson.Send your requisition, with check or money order, to:

F. Scott Crawford, 3661 Stockton Drive,Carrollton, Texas 75010




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FLINT KNAPPING 20.12TM

www.StoneBreaker-FSC.net/FLINT_KNAPPING_20-12.html

Twice each month “FLINT KNAPPING 20.12”brings to you another in a 24-issue series of fully-illustrated, comprehensive lessons about animportant aspect of creating tools and huntingweapons from stone.

These give you the methods and techniques.

How much you accomplish with it all is up to you.Prepare, practice and produce!

Here is the list of topics prepared foryour complete series of lessons in“FLINT KNAPPING 20.12”.

• Mastering The Stone (THIS ISSUE)• Hammer Stone Percussion (NEXT)• Soft Hammer Percussion• Spalls Of Stone• Chips Off The Old Block• Heat Treatment• Percussion Cores• Chips & Blades• Indirect Percussion• Pressure Flaking• Edge Preparation• Platform Preparation• Perfecting A Practice Piece

• Percussion Pre-Forms• Preforms & Slabs ~ Ready To Finish Now• The Secret To More Powerful Pressure Flaking• Notch Your Stuff & Better Notching Tools• Small Point Pressure Flaking• Working With Core & Blades• Completing A Percussion-Only Project• Gunther Style Arrowhead ~ Northwest• Cahokia Style Arrowhead ~ Midwest

• Dalton & Humboldt ~ Early ArchaicPeriod

• Necessity Is The Mother Of Invention• Stone Sources In The Space Age &

Stone By Mail• Clovis & Agate Basin ~ Paleo Period*• Ishi Arrow Points ~ End Of The

Stoneage*• Folsom & Cumberland ~ Indirect

Percussion**Bonus Editions

Read, study and practice what youlearn in each edition. Do this and youwill indeed be on the ‘Fast Track’ tolearn, enjoy and master the challengingart and craft of flint knapping.

You Will Learn The Secrets To Build A Solid Foundation InThe Essential Aspects Of The Ancient “Flint Knapping” Craft.

A “Scottsbluff” style lance or dart point made from acut slab of heat treated Gemfield Jasper from Nevada.

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