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The First People Flintknapping a Spear or Dart Point.

Flintknapping is the process of chipping or flaking a stone into tools. Each step of the flintknapping process produces distinctive types and numbers of flakes. By studying the size, type, and location of flakes at an archeological site, archeologists can tell what type of flintknapping activities took place.

 

1. Testing

Quality is tested by removing a flake or two with a hammerstone. If the flint is poor quality the cobble and test flakes are thrown away.

2. Making an Edge

A small stone hammer is used to prepare the outside edge of the stone for thinning the piece.

Using a hammerstone the flintknapper removes flakes from the edge.

3. Thinning

By stricking the prepared edge with a soft hammer the flintknapper can remove long thinning flakes from the top and bottom sides of the stone.

4. Shaping

Additional thinning with a soft hammer shapes the stone into the form of a spear or dart point.

5. Pressure Flaking.

can't make out the rest. sorry.

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Uploaded on December 3, 2011
Taken on June 28, 2011