MINIATURE POINTS

(PUSHING THE LIMITS)
TWO MODERN KNAPPERS

THREE MINIATURE POINTS
BY BOB WITHROW AND DANIEL WHITE

   The two notched Cahokia points on each end of this picture were made by Bob Withrow and the fluted Clovis point in the center was made by Daniel White. The largest point measures 3/8 of an inch (9mm) long.

ABSTRACT:

 CLICK ON PICTURE FOR VERY LARGE IMAGE
MINIATURE POINTS
MADE BY MODERN DAY FLINTKNAPPERS

   The miniature points pictured on this page were made by two different flint knappers, Bob Withrow and Daniel White. Their work shows that controlled pressure flaking can be done on a microscopic level.

MINIATURE KNIFE AND POINTS
 
CENTER POINTS WERE MADE BY BOB WITHROW & THE OTHERS BY DANIEL WHITE

   A few years ago when the artifacts for the "Stone Age Artifacts of the World" poster were being assembled I asked Bob Withrow if he could make me some very tiny points. I wanted to use them to show how very small points could be shaped by pressure flaking. He made several which are pictured on this page and in the poster.


4 DIFFERENT MINIATURE POINTS
MADE BY BOB WITHROW
PETE BOSTROM COLLECTION

   Three of these points were made out of white Burlington chert. The clear amber one is either glass or Kaolin chert. The "classic" point type in this picture is the Cahokia Tri-Notched Serrated point, second from the right. It measures 7/16 inches (1cm)  long.

    Daniel White uses the tip of a knife to begin the process of shaping a small preform. For notching he uses pins and can go through 5 or 6 before finishing a small point. The whole procedure is done under a microscope. 


MINIATURE FLUTED CLOVIS POINTS
MADE BY DANIEL WHITE
DANIEL WHITE COLLECTION

   These neat little points were made by Daniel White out of Alibates chert. They were flaked with needles The smallest is only about 3/16 of an inch long.

    If any miniature points have been found on ancient sites, they were probably made for the same reason as people are making them today. Just to see how small they can make them. Miniature points would seem to have no other purpose than as an item of curiosity.


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MINIATURE POINTS BY BOB WITHROW
PETE BOSTROM COLLECTION

   These 11 points & 1 hafted knife were all made by Bob Withrow for the "Stone Age Artifacts of the World" poster. The various materials are white Burlington chert, Kaolin chert and glass. They are all very well done----especially the hafted knife!

   Smaller than normal arrow points have have been found on archaeological sites in North America. Although none have been anywhere near as small as some of the ones illustrated here. One explanation is that they may have been made for a child's toy or used in small bow and arrow "teaching sets". A large variety of toys have been observed among the Eskimo including hunting outfits and bows and arrows. One of the smallest Cahokia points found on the Cahokia Mounds site measures 9/16 of an inch (14mm)  long.


MINIATURE POINTS BY DANIEL WHITE
DANIEL WHITE COLLECTION

   All the points in this picture were made by Daniel White. The little Cumberland point is made of Coastal Plains chert. The gray stemmed and serrated point is made of Indiana Hornstone and the rest are made of Alibates chert. The gray point and the smallest Clovis point are the smallest of any miniature points I have seen.

   Hundreds of years ago in Britain and Ireland people called the stone arrowheads found in the fields and streams "elf-shot", elf-stones" and "elf-bolts". It was common belief they were used by elves and fairies to shoot men and cattle to make them sick. Someone making an arrowhead in those days like the miniature examples on this page would probably have caused quite a sensation. But the maker might have been burned at the stake!

"REFERENCES"

1895, "Primitive Man," by Edward Clodd, pp. 94-100.
Personal communications with Daniel White and Bob Withrow.

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