PAGE 2 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 ROY

PAGE 2 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
ROY MILLER
A MODERN DAY FLINTKNAPPER
AND HIS
FLINT RIDGE QUARRY
PAGE 2 OF 3 PAGES
COPYRIGHT MARCH 31, 2007 PETER A. BOSTROM

ROY MILLER &
HEAT TREATED FLINT RIDGE FLINT

Since this article is also about Roy's Flint Ridge quarry, here are some interesting facts about the area known as Flint Ridge. The Ohio Flint Ridge quarries have been well known to archaeologists for many years. W. H. Holmes wrote in 1912 "The extent of the ancient operations (at Flint Ridge) is almost beyond belief and can be realized only imperfectly by those who have not visited the locality." He also refers to the area as "one of the greatest of the known aboriginal quarries." In 1892 Warren K. Moorehead writes "Probably nowhere else in the United States are to be seen aboriginal excavations on so extensive a scale."

CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGER IMAGE
FLINT RIDGE FLINT
RAW FLINT ON LEFT & HEAT TREATED ON THE RIGHT

These Flint Ridge flakes show the dramatic contrast in color before and after heat treating. The flakes on the left are unaltered as they appear from the Flint Ridge quarries. The more colorful flakes on the right were altered by heating the preforms. Roy uses an electric kiln to heat treat his flint. The process takes from three to four days before the preforms are removed from the oven. He programs the kiln to slowly heat 25 degrees per hour until it reaches a maximum of 500 to 550 degrees. He can control the temperatures close enough to bring out more of the yellows at a slightly lower temperature and more of the reds with a higher temperature. All of these flakes were quarried from Roy Miller's property which is part of the ancient Flint Ridge quarry complex in eastern Ohio.

Nomadic Paleo-Indians were the first people to use Flint Ridge flint sometime before 10,000 years ago. As an example, one of the Clovis points found in the Lamb cache is believed to be made of Flint Ridge flint. It was found in a cultivated field in western New York. Another good example of an ancient point is an Early Archaic Dovetail known as the "Hooks" Dove. It's is made a particularly rare variety of bright red Flint Ridge. Large scale quarrying activities did not begin until sometime during the Archaic period and later. Approximately 2,500 years ago, the Middle Woodland Hopewell people began making large numbers of small core blades they were using as knives. Holmes writes that "The presence (at Flint Ridge) of large numbers of cores or nuclei indicates that a product of much importance consisted of minute flake blades, which probably served as knives."

CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGER IMAGE
FLINT RIDGE QUARRY PIT
ROY MILLER PROPERTY
EASTERN OHIO

This picture shows a Flint Ridge mining excavation in progress. It was dug by Roy Miller with a back hoe and by hand. The sledge hammers & chisel are used in the process of extracting and testing the quality of the flint. Roy also uses a hydraulic hammer to remove the flint. The depth of the loose earth and rock to the rock ledge, in this location, is only one to three feet.
Roy's observations of how the flint is actually attached to the limestone is different from Holmes's illustration and description. Roy says he observes the flint protruding from the limestone in the form of knobs, as high as two feet and in other configurations. Not in a solid thick layer. He says it sometimes looks as if the silica was bubbling up and through to the surface of the limestone formation.

The people of Ohio have brought attention to the geological formation, known as Flint Ridge in a couple of ways. In 1933 the Ohio Historical Society established the Flint Ridge State Memorial on a 525 acre portion of Flint Ridge. The site has a museum that is built over a restored prehistoric quarry pit and they have displays that explain the mining and chipping of flint. Also, in 1965, the Ohio General Assembly adopted flint as Ohio's official gemstone.

FRESHLY QUARRIED FLINT RIDGE FLINT
FLINT RIDGE QUARRY SITE
EASTERN OHIO

This picture shows two large pieces of Flint Ridge flint still lying in the quarry pit. Roy Miller uses a hydraulic hammer to break loose these larger pieces of flint.

Flint Ridge is described as a narrow irregular plateau-capped line of hills in Licking and Muskingum Counties, Ohio. Holmes writes that the ancient quarries in this area covers many hundreds of acres. He was certainly impressed with the extent of the ancient mining activities, to the point of finding it almost unbelievable.

QUARRY TOOLS IN PIT
FLINT RIDGE QUARRY
EASTERN OHIO

This picture shows some of the modern tools of the trade that are used in hard rock mining. At top right can be seen a small sledge hammer. To the left is a chisel and a copper billet. Still farther to the left is a typical rock hammer, also known as a rock pick or prospector's pick.

The Flint at Flint Ridge is capped by earth, clay and rock debris. The ancient pits were dug to a depth of five to twenty five feet to the flint stratum below. Many of the ancient pits look as if they were made in recent times. Some of them still have a depth of five to ten feet. Holmes writes that the actual flint stratum does not appear to exceed seven to eight feet in thickness.

CONTINUE ON TO PAGE THREE

"REFERENCES"

1892, Moorehead, Warren K., "Primitive Man In Ohio," p. 31.
1912, Holmes, W. H., "Flint Ridge and Warsaw Quarries, Ohio," Handbook of Aboriginal American Antiquities, Part I, Introductory The Lithic Industries, Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin 60, pp. 173-181.
1999, Blundo, Joe, "Flint Knappers," The Columbus Dispatch, Sept. 4.
1999, Gramly, R. M., The Lamb Site:A Pioneering Clovis Encampment," 46 & 47.
2000, Chips staff, "Chips," vol. 12, # 1, p. 11.
2007, Personal communications with Roy Miller.

RECENT LISTINGS HOME ORDERING