What
is Flint Knapping?
Flintknapping
is the process of chipping away material from high silica
stones like "flint" in a carefully controlled
manner with special tools to produce sharp projectile
points or tools. Only the purest silica based stones
will provide fracture predictability required to achieve
the finest works. The native peoples of North America
Produced some of the finest flint projectiles and blades
in the world. There were countless stone projectiles
and tools produced by North America's native people
for over 10,000 years, most of which were made as utilitarian
objects appearing crude and simple but effective.
However,
there were others who created these objects far beyond
their utilitarian purpose. These incredible works of
art are as rare as they are diverse in shape, color,
purpose, workmanship and beauty. This is what inspires
modern knappers today. Those ancient knappers are the
original masters of the craft. Some of these objects
are commonly and falsely dubbed as ceremonial by archeologists
and or collectors. Of course we know some were ceremonial,
but not all. Some fine pieces just happened to be crafted
by people with a great knowledge of the fracture mechanics
of flint knapping. Many of these high quality objects
were used in every day life of many ancient cultures.
These finely crafted tools show use sharpening, wear
and damage caused by impact fractures just as the "average"
quality stone tools do.
These
ancient artists are the inspiration for the growing
numbers of modern day flintknappers. Their ancient art
and ours is timeless.
You
want to learn more about modern knapping? Go to a "Knap-In"
event near you, simply search this site or view the
links page.
