Indian flint tools

A person who creates tools out of flint is known as a flint knapper. A flint knapper makes stone tools using flint including arrowheads, projectile points for spears, hand axes etc. The process is called Flint Knapping. Flint knapping involves a reduction process of the original stone of flint. Flakes of stone are broken off the of the original piece of flint. How to make Stone Tools from Flint To make a projectile point, like an arrowhead or spear point, the piece of flint is directly struck with a hammerstone to remove large sharp flakes and break it into usable pieces of stone.

A hammerstone is the archaeological name used for an object used as a prehistoric hammer. By banging the piece of flint large, thin, sharp flakes of stone are produced - basically the original piece of flint is reduced in size making a thinner piece of flint in the required thickness. The next step is called pressure flaking. Pressure flaking is achieved by placing a pointed tool, such as an antler horn or piece of bone on the edge of the stone, and applying an inward pressure to the tool to remove a small, thin flake from the stone.

The objective of pressure flaking is to shape and refine the projectile point. This type of settlement site dates back about 10, years. The large tools were crafted to kill and process large game abundant in the area at the time, such as mammoths. As large game became scarce, Indians began hunting and killing medium-size game. In each developmental stage, stone tools became smaller and smaller as large game died out and smaller game took its place.

Collectors of Indian relics may sell or trade part of their collection to other collectors. Extremely rare trades are often marked as being a former part of a distinguished person's collection of rarities even if they no longer belong to that person. Many collections of relics are priceless and not for sale.

Victoria Ries is a freelance writer whose work has been published in various print magazines, including "Guideposts," "BackHome," New Homesteading" and "Mother Earth News. Ries is currently working on her B. By: Victoria Ries Updated April 12, Many tools called arrowheads are actually knives and spear tips. These artifacts are most often made of flint or chert, less often from obsidian, jasper, quartzite or colored agate. Seek help from books, the Internet or local geologists with identifying minerals.

Know the difference between different colored and textured varieties of the same type of stone. Distinguish between the types of slate commonly fashioned into tools. Study the shape or morphology of the tool as the primary indicator of its classification. Look for crudely chipped scrapers and hand choppers that may not look like tools. Determine if the tool was hafted or hand held. Look for a finely sanded cutting bit on the sharp edges of axes and celts. Consult with local artifact hunters, archaeologists and museums with help in the identification of type and classification of your stone tool.

Identify projectile points and bladed tools by their overall outline and the shape of the base. Each culture living in a particular time period had constraints on the shape of their tools, as if they were copied from a template. Pay attention to the base and classify it as articulate, with pointed ears, basal-notched, corner- or side-notched.