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 life. They show use wear and impact fractures just as the "average" projectiles do.

These ancient artists are the inspiration for the growing numbers of modern day flintknappers. Their ancient art and ours is timeless.

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