I've always been fascinated by the various types of tools and blades that can be made out of various types stone; flint, chert, obsidian, agate etc
As a kid I used to collect a whole bunch of flint, granite, quartzite cobbles (hidden in a side pocket of my schoolbag -- yea I was a weird kid) with the intent of knapping them into some prehistoric tools; but alas, one could not easily learn knapping just by reading it in books. Spent years trying to figure out what they meant by "pressure flaking","notching", "billeting tool", and all other terms in the pre-interwebz years. All I've managed to make so far those days are a bunch of crude looking "hammerstone" cobbles, the odd "hollowed out stone beads" and plenty of powdered rock, bleeding fingers, and going "uh oh, that didn't work!"
Oh the great joys of Google and Youtube has finally satisfied me with the "pre-requisite" technique details that the childhood me have hungered all these years!
The problem now is, in Western Canada, flint is not easily available. So I guess I'd start with an easily obtainable material -- the end of a wine bottle -- before I even dream of getting my paws on real flint, chert or obsidian.
Not claiming to be any expert in knapping (disclaimer!) I would direct you to this link
http://cavemanchemistry.com/oldcave/projects/stone/bottle.html
This the most complete "Beginner's Guide" to glass knapping that I've come across (so far). I couldn't figure out who is the actual authors of that article, but whoever you are, you've made this eternally curious fox very grateful!
Now stay tuned for updates on my glass bottle knapping experiment!
In the meantime, if your own curiosity is tweaked and want to start it yourself ... watch this. Thanks practical primitive, for posting the wonderful instructive video!
As a kid I used to collect a whole bunch of flint, granite, quartzite cobbles (hidden in a side pocket of my schoolbag -- yea I was a weird kid) with the intent of knapping them into some prehistoric tools; but alas, one could not easily learn knapping just by reading it in books. Spent years trying to figure out what they meant by "pressure flaking","notching", "billeting tool", and all other terms in the pre-interwebz years. All I've managed to make so far those days are a bunch of crude looking "hammerstone" cobbles, the odd "hollowed out stone beads" and plenty of powdered rock, bleeding fingers, and going "uh oh, that didn't work!"
Oh the great joys of Google and Youtube has finally satisfied me with the "pre-requisite" technique details that the childhood me have hungered all these years!
The problem now is, in Western Canada, flint is not easily available. So I guess I'd start with an easily obtainable material -- the end of a wine bottle -- before I even dream of getting my paws on real flint, chert or obsidian.
Not claiming to be any expert in knapping (disclaimer!) I would direct you to this link
http://cavemanchemistry.com/oldcave/projects/stone/bottle.html
This the most complete "Beginner's Guide" to glass knapping that I've come across (so far). I couldn't figure out who is the actual authors of that article, but whoever you are, you've made this eternally curious fox very grateful!
Now stay tuned for updates on my glass bottle knapping experiment!
In the meantime, if your own curiosity is tweaked and want to start it yourself ... watch this. Thanks practical primitive, for posting the wonderful instructive video!
I've never knapped glass before, I've tried obsidian. Can't wait to see what you come up with. Keep us posted.
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