[fso301]

There may just be only so many ways you can knapp stone into a useful tool

[TXnMA]

fso301: "There may just be only so many ways you can knapp stone into a useful tool

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There are:

That's my handout for when I demo/teach basic Lithic Technology (aka "FlintKnapping") to any group from gradeschool kids to "Archaeological Lithics Academies" for adults.

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"Lithic reduction" (aka "toolmaking") generally proceeds from top to bottom:

1. The "Hard Hammer" ("Hammerstone") works by putting a 120-degree circular "shockwave cone" into the preform (like a BB hitting glass). Properly angled, a portion of the "shockwave cone" causes a fairly thick, "shell-shaped" (aka "Conchoidal") flake to detach -- by causing the material to fail in COMPRESSION.

2. The "Soft Hammer" (antler, bone, or wood billet" or ") causes a prepared, isolated "striking platform" (aligned with a "backbone ridge" [aka "arris"]) to fail IN TENSION -- "peeling off" a long, thin flake that generally follows the ridge .

3. "Pressure Flaking" Uses a fairly sharp (antler tip or bone) tool to direct a LOT of COMPRESSION ("pressure") force [large arrow vector] into a miniature "Force Platform" -- in the direction of the intended flake removal. Then, [small vector arrow] a twist of the wrist directs sufficient force away from the preform to "peel off" a long, narrow flake (in TENSION). For example, pressure flaking is used to produce fine "ribbon flaking" like this

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"Fluting" is a special case of SOFT HAMMER flake detachment:

For fluting, the hard part is getting the preform into exactly the right shape (with a created "ridge" down the side to be fluted -- and a properly isolated and prepared "striking platform" (aligned with the ridge) on the end of the preform you're going to hit -- with a "Soft Hammer".

Oh -- and being able to hit ONLY the "platform -- at exactly the right angle -- with precisely the right amount of speed and force...

AND -- wrapping & supporting the preform blade along its entire length, so it doesn't try to flex & bend in the middle -- and, with a sharp "CRACK!" -- "provide you with TWO practice pieces" -- through a physical phenomenon known as "End Shock" [or, "$#@*&#^!!!"]  '-}

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FWIW: Imagine trying to explain the above by only pointing and grunting!

I believe that flintknapping helped force development of language and graphics (sketching)!

TMI? Well -- you did raise the subject...!   <LOL!!>

TXnMA