2001 MAY

"FLINTKNAPPING"
AN ANCIENT CRAFT

STILL GOING STRONG!

Tim Dillard working on a large blade at the annual Fairview Heights, Illinois knap-in.
Pictures show edge grinding and striking off a flake with an antler billet.

THE MODERN ART OF FLINTKNAPPING

    "The shaping of stone by fracture processes is one of the earliest as well as one of the most important arts of primitive men". This statement from a 1912 publication from the Smithsonian Institution "The Handbook of American Indians North of Mexico" defines it quite well. The word "art" in this sentence can be used to define what is actually going on with today's modern flintknappers. These people are duplicating virtually all of the different types of ancient stone artifacts that have been found throughout the world. Whether they are Clovis or Folsom points from North America, Neolithic Daggers from Europe or Gerzean Knives from North Africa.  The difference that separates the past from the present is that the stone artifacts being made today are no longer used on a daily basis to survive but "mainly" for enjoyment as a hobby that produces a unique piece of art.
    Flintknapping is a fast growing hobby. In the 1970's a "knap-in" where flintknappers would get together to show and observe each others techniques, trade for various knapping materials and just have a good time was pretty much unheard of. I remember when a large knap-in was ten or twelve knappers. In recent years "knap-ins" can draw hundreds of people and with the passing of each year is growing by leaps and bounds.
    Within the last ten or fifteen years there has developed a growing appreciation for finely crafted modern-made chipped stone artifacts as collectables. Some of the finer pieces have sold for $1,000. and more but most can be purchased for $15.00 to $150.00. These can be either extremely exotically chipped stone blades that have been hafted in ultra fancy handles or large and finely crafted points made from rare and colorful stones on the high pricey end. Or small arrow points to slightly larger point types on the lower price range. The prettiest modern arrow point that I have ever seen, new or old, was made from synthetic opal by a talented flintknapper, Jim Hopper. Collecting signed copies from the artist of finely crafted modern-made stone artifacts will continue to grow as it has with any other art if it's well done.
   This new surge of flintknapping in recent years is causing great consternation among another group of people. They are the collectors of ancient Stone Age artifacts. Their collecting tradition probably extends back in time to not long after the Industrial Revolution began. Approximately 1.2 million modern made chipped stone artifacts are being made each year according to one estimate. Some are so well made and with an applied patina to make them look old that authentication labs have been appearing across the country to help determine the old from the new. Well over 50% of the artifacts sent to these labs for authentication are determined to be recently made. A large side-notched point known as the "Atlas Spear" sold on auction in Illinois in the summer of 2000 for $70,000. plus an additional $7,000. for the auction house buyers premium. As with almost all other collectables from comic books to pocket knives the values have risen for documented authentic antiques. But there is not enough to go around and it's causing some negative feelings against the flintknapping industry by authentic collectors. The only answer is, if you want to collect it's buyer beware. Most of the finer made North American style artifacts out there in collections almost have to be modern-made. I've received modern points from professional archaeologist, presented as old but were later found to be new.
   Another group who have actually benefited from the recent surge of so many people focusing their energy on this ancient craft to duplicate large numbers of different ancient stone tool manufacturing techniques are the scientist who study them. Archaeologists have been excavating Stone Age artifacts in North America since Thomas Jefferson first investigated an Indian mound in the late 1700's. At that time little was known about North
America's primitive but highly diverse stone tool manufacturing technologies. In Great Briton and other areas of the world at that time many people believed arrow heads either came from lightening bolts or were made by elves and were called "thunderbolts", "elf-shot" or "elf-stones". They were also credited with miraculous healing powers! Some knowledge was gained by observing the indigenous Indian natives such as the famous Yahi tribesman from California known as Ishi. He could skillfully make arrow points with notches that narrowly entered the side then expanded inward. In more recent years, 1960's and 1970's, Don Crabtree an American and Francois Bordes a Frenchman are the two people mainly credited with beginning in depth scientific studies trying to copy various ancient flintknapping techniques. But in the 1980's and 1990's archaeologists have been able to gather information by working with flintknappers. The goal being to duplicate the same manufacturing removal flakes left behind on ancient sites plus copying finished stone tools. Flintknappers are using many tons of chert each year and they are seeking out every available source of good knapable stone. This process is also helping archaeologists to identify new sources of chert.
   A 24 page quarterly publication about flintknapping called "Chips" by Dave and Val Waldorf is probably the leading newsletter for people interested in flintknapping. These publications have very good articles about flaking techniques, point types, book reviews, etc. and are very well illustrated with Val's fine drawings. They have advertisements for every type of flintknapping paraphernalia from various tools to the raw materials. The "Chips" publication costs $15.00 in the U.S. for four yearly issues. It can be ordered from---Chips, flintknappers corner, Dane and Mary Martin, Greasy Creek Holler, Washburn, MO 65772.

TIM DILLARD
ILLINOIS FLINTKNAPPER
FROM THE COLLECTION OF DONNIE McKINNIS

   Tim Dillard has been flintknapping since the age of 12. He became fairly skillful by the age of 18 or 19 and now at 33 is following in a long and old tradition that has always been done somewhere in the world in all time periods of human history. Only a tiny fraction of  one percent of the world population now makes stone tools but the craft is growing more in recent years as a hobby, a vocation or even for scientific study & experimental archaeology.
   What makes Tim stand out from a crowd of flintknappers is his fairly unique ability to make such a wide range of different point types and do it well. His ability represents at least 14,000 years of culturally diverse stone tool manufacturing technology. The majority (but not all) of today's knappers focus on a much smaller number of styles and are trying to master just a few specific point types as well as they can.
   A large percentage of the knappers use copper tools to make their points. Copper was used in prehistoric times but not nearly as much as antler. The difference between the flake scars made by one or the other can sometimes be quite obvious. Tim Dillard makes his points with what must have been the more traditional tools. These are; an antler billet for removing large percussion flakes, an antler tine for pressure flaking and a grinding stone for edge preparation before driving off each flake.
   When asked how you make a point Tim Dillard says "you remove what you don't want". He also says that each individual flintknapper produces a style that is unique to that person. Probably like hand writing. Well his signature is in every piece he makes whether he signs it or not and the stone-----well it will outlast us all.

CLICK ON PICTURE FOR A LARGE TRIPLE IMAGE
CLOVIS POINT BY TIM DILLARD
DONNIE McKINNIS COLLECTION

   This Clovis point is made of Kaolin chert from southern Illinois. It's made the same as a Clovis hunter would have made his spear point 14,000 years ago. This point measures 3 7/8 inches long.

CLICK ON PICTURE FOR A LARGE TRIPLE IMAGE!
DALTON POINT BY TIM DILLARD
DONNIE McKINNIS COLLECTION

   Tim is known as one of the best maker of Dalton points. This example shows very expertly done parallel flaking and good over all form. As skilled as he is at making Dalton points he does admit though that he doesn't know how the large "hollow ground" flaked Daltons were made. No one has yet been able to duplicate them. This example is made of Burlington chert and measures 5 3/4 inches long.

CLICK ON PICTURE FOR A LARGE TRIPLE IMAGE!
CUMBERLAND POINT BY TIM DILLARD
DONNIE McKINNIS COLLECTION

   This Cumberland point is made of Cobden chert and measures 5 inches long. The channel flake is very smooth and it's fluted to the tip on both sides.

CLICK ON PICTURE FOR A LARGE TRIPLE IMAGE
FULTON TURKEY TAIL BY TIM DILLARD
DONNIE McKINNIS COLLECTION

   This Fulton Turkey Tail is made of Indiana Hornstone and measures 5 15/16 inches long. Points of this style have been found in caches and date to the late Archaic period. 

CLICK ON PICTURE FOR A LARGE TRIPLE IMAGE
AGATE BASIN POINT BY TIM DILLARD
DONNIE McKINNIS COLLECTION

   This Agate Basin point is very well made and the flaking is precisely the way ancient ones were made. This one is made of white Burlington chert and measures 5 3/4 inches long.

CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGE PICTURE OF SEVERAL LARGE BLADES (bifaces)
LARGE MISSISSIPPIAN SWORD BY TIM DILLARD
DONNIE McKINNIS COLLECTION

   This large Mississippian culture style "sword" illustrates very well the skill level Tim has attained from 21 years of flaking stone. This blade (biface) is made of Mill Creek chert, a material more difficult to knap than many of the more common stone like Burlington chert. This example measures 11 inches long. Click on the picture to see blades up to 15 inches long.

CLICK ON PICTURE FOR A TRIPLE IMAGE
HARDIN-BARBED POINT BY TIM DILLARD
DONNIE McKINNIS COLLECTION

   This Hardin Barbed point is made of white Burlington chert. It's another fine example of Tim's ability to duplicate Early Archaic point types. This point measures 5 3/4 inches long.

CLICK ON PICTURE FOR A TRIPLE IMAGE
ROSS POINT BY TIM DILLARD
DONNIE McKINNIS COLLECTION

   This Hopewell Ross styled point is made of semi-translucent Knife River flint from North Dakota. It measures 6 1/4 inches long.

   
CLICK ON PICTURES FOR GROUP OF DICKSON'S & TRIPLE VIEW OF ONE TO RIGHT
DICKSON POINT BY TIM DILLARD
DONNIE McKINNIS COLLECTION

   This long and thin Dickson point on the left was made from heat treated Burlington chert. Tim is able to make Dickson points as thin as he wants. This point measures 8 1/8 inches long. The one on the right is beveled. It measures slightly over 6 1/2 inches long.

CLICK ON PICTURE FOR A MUCH LARGER PICTURE
TURKEY TAIL POINTS BY TIM DILLARD
DONNIE McKINNIS COLLECTION

   These Turkey Tail points were all made from Indiana Hornstone. The majority of all ancient Turkey Tail points were made of this material. The longest point is this group measures 6 1/4 inches long.

"REFERENCES"

1895, "Primitive Man", Edward Clodd, London.
1912, "Handbook of American Indians North of Mexico", Smithsonian Institution publication, Part 1 Bulletin 30, PP 465.

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