Flint Knapping

Flint Knapping FAQ’S

Where does this flint come from?

All the brown flint show here is known as Knife River flint. It comes only from west central North Dakota. Dunn and Mercer counties are the main sources. Knife River flint is a very high quality flint and has been used by the earliest people known to have entered the area over 12000 years ago. It was widely traded prehistorically with artifacts made from it found as far away as New York State.

What is “Heat Treating”? The flaking characteristics of some types of stone can be greatly improved by slowly heating the stone to a specific temperature and time, then cooling it slowly. Each “heat treatable” stone type has its own temperature and time requirements. Knife River flint can be improved by heating it to 350 degrees F for 1-2 hours but it is usually not necessary as it already had excellent flaking characteristics.

True or False: Arrowheads are made by heating the stone and dripping water on it to remove the flakes.

False. This is a commonly held belief but is totally wrong. Such treatment of stone will only cause uncontrolled shattering of the stone. It never has and never will be a technique for forming sharp edged tools. True or False: To remove flakes from hard stone like flint, you must strike the stone with something even harder, like a steel hammer. False. Striking with too hard an object will shatter the flint. A softer material such as a softer stone, bone, very hard wood, or an antler allows energy to be transmitted from the billet into the stone smoothly and so as to produce a controlled, predictable fracture. Antler seems to work best. Many knappers though use copper billets.

True or False: Very small arrowheads, some only ¼” wide are called “bird points” because they were used on arrows to hunt birds. Possibly, but stone arrowheads are certainly not needed to hunt birds. A flint arrow would be just as effective. It is more likely that the very small ones were for the kids toy bow and arrows. It is believed that the simple triangular arrowhead of as small as ½” which could be produced in 2-3 minutes was used to kill buffalo. This size arrowheads have been found in places where buffalo had been corralled or trapped and killed in large numbers over hundreds of years. The only function of the arrowhead was to penetrate the tough skin and bounce off a rib if needed, so the arrow shaft could enter the chest and cause lung collapse. Such a small arrowhead is unlikely to cause much hemorrhaging. True or False: A piece of flint should have a “grain” or layering effect so it is easier to make thin, flat tools like an arrowhead.

False. Flint needs to be homogeneous throughout with no “grain” or cracks. It must fracture equally well in all directions. The closer flint is to a chunk of pure glass, the better it is for flint knapping. True or False: A flake can never be as sharp as a steel knife. False.

A flake of obsidian is many times sharper and smoother than the sharpest surgeon’s scalpel. People first inhabited the Great Plains about 12500 years ago. When did they start using the bow and arrow? People who lived in the far north Arctic islands of Canada first brought the bow and arrow to North America from Siberia about 4500 years ago. Since there was little contact between them and the people further south, the spread of the use of the bow and arrow was slow. It probably started its south and westward spread from Hudson’s Bay and Labrador about 4000 years ago but did not reach the Great Plains until 1500-2000 years ago. Before that time, the atl atl was the main hunting weapon. The first chipped stone stools in the world were made how long ago?

A. 2.5 million years ago

B. 100,000 years ago

C. 35000 years ago

D. 12500 years ago A. 2.5 million years ago. 100,000 years ago, Neanderthal man was living in Europe and making about 60 different types of stone flaked tools. By 35000 years ago, Neanderthal man was extinct and replaced throughout Europe and Asia by modern man, Homo sapiens. By 12500 years ago the earliest proven people to occupy North America, the Clovis culture, were living in what would become the USA. Where can I get more Information? 1.Subscribe to magazine called “Chips”. This magazine is published quarterly and contains lots of advertisements for instructional tapes and books, tools, raw stones, finished points, and knap in locations and dates. (A knap in is a get together of flint knappers.)

2.Get the book, “The Art of Flint Knapping” by D.C. Waldorff. It is the best and most simple book to learn flint knapping. It is 75 pages long, a paperback and covers everything you need to know to start flint knapping.

3.Get the book, “Flint Knapping” by John C. Whittaker. It is a 300 page paperback book. It is a more technical book in its explanations but is very good.

You can also find information at Flint Knappers Corner Greasy Creek Holler Washburn, Mo 65772 Telephone #: 417-662-3377 Email: knapper@specent.com

*This informaion was provided by Dean a little while back so this email and phone number may no longer be valid* This information was provided by DEAN GUSHWA FARGO, ND

A FLINTKNAPPER SINCE 1982

Sadly Dr. Dean Gushwa died on April 13th, 2003 the following is part of his obituary.

Dean was an avid outdoorsman, and enjoyed hunting and camping with family and friends. His interest in prehistoric and fur trade era Americans led to his hobbies of flint-knapping, hide tanning, and other stone-age arts. He freely shared his knowledge, skills, and passions with all who were interested. Even while engaged in these activities, he always held his family dearest to him, never failing to have the time to help and love his sons and wife.

Although increasingly limited by his physical condition from the spring of 2000, Dean maintained his particular sense of logic, wit, and humor. At the time of his death, Dean was surrounded by family and the best wishes of all his friends. He will be remembered by many.