Best Tips for the Beginning Flintknapper: Beginner's Guide
What is flintknapping? Flint knapping has been a skill known to man for a very long time. Flint knapping is the act of removing material from a silica based stone like "flint," in order to shape the stone into a tool or piece of art. During the stone age, survival hinged directly to one's ability to shape stone into tools and weapons. Modern knappers are rediscovering and passing on flintknapping skill and artistry. Some modern knappers use primitive flintknapping tools like bone and antler tips. Other modern knappers choose to use tools made from modern materials that mimic the primitive flintknapping processes. Some historians even argue that the use of copper for flintknapping dates much earlier than commonly assumed. The Three Most Basic Flintknapping Methods 1. Pressure Flaking: A platform is prepared on the stone with a rough abrader. If the platform is prepared correctly the knapper can remove material by applying pressure to the stone with a pressure fla...