just for fun (dumb question)

[iowabow]

Why if I make arrowheads from chert is it call "Flint knapping"?

[Josh B]

I don't know John.    If it bothers you, in honor of your classic victory I guess we could call you the crapper knapper. . Would that be better?   Lol!  Josh

[iowabow]

I don't know John.    If it bothers you, in honor of your classic victory I guess we could call you the crapper knapper. . Would that be better?   Lol!  Josh

Lol that's the kind of light hearted responce I was looking for lol

[TRACY]

John, I'm sure many geologists would agree.

Back at you: Why is it called an arrowhead and not an arrow point? Point implies sharpness and head implies ??. (Sorry, having an 8th grader moment )


Tracy

[JEB]

Not sure that there is even any flint in the U.S.   Or at least that is native to the U.S.  I think true English flint can be found along the eastern shore line. I understand it was used for ship ballast and then dumbed after or while the ships were being loaded.    It would be interesting to read if there is any true flint rock in America. Think everyone just refers to rock as flint, hence flintknapping.

[mullet]

All of the Geologist I have worked with said there is no true flint in the US.

[Thesquirrelslinger]

Where can one obtain true flint?

[Will H]

True flint is all overseas. Mostly in Europe. The closest thing to it we have here is in the chalk beds in TX. So Georgetown, pedernales, and rootbeer. I think there are a few dealers that sell English flint. As for the name flintknapping. I belive it originates from gun flint makers in Europe.

[gstoneberg]

That reminds me, I work with a guy from the UK and he said if I remind him he'd bring over as much flint from his yard as he could get in his luggage (and still meet the weight limits).  He's coming in a couple weeks, I'm gonna go email him a reminder.

George

[iowabow]

That reminds me, I work with a guy from the UK and he said if I remind him he'd bring over as much flint from his yard as he could get in his luggage (and still meet the weight limits).  He's coming in a couple weeks, I'm gonna go email him a reminder.

George

Read the fine print please
"this post has a reminder tax"

[gstoneberg]

LOL, I'm sure it does.  Here's the response from my friend (I asked if he would forget - and included a picture):

Of course not! :-)

I'm out and about near Winchester at the weekend and there should be plenty of lovely flint lying around! What sort of sized lumps are you after?

Neil

PS That is a very nice arrow head!


Sure hope he comes through.

George

[iowabow]

Dear Neal,
Please don't bother with anything plate size or smaller.
Thanks G
P.S. See ya on the other side of the pond!

[bowtarist]

Tracy made me laugh. dp

[YosemiteBen]

Hmmm... interesting question. In the beginning the term was coined in Europe where they do have flint (seems to have some translucency). Knapping is the art of making stone tools. For some discussions I also point out that arrow heads, arrow points and projectile points are all tools as opposed to weapons as their original intent  was for hunting and/or ceremonial more so than killing other people.  I have not been able to find any information which provides a very solid distinction between Chert and Flint. I have heard that like granite and obsidian, they are geologically/technically the same thing. Hmmm .... another can of worms.  Kind of like folks referring to deer horns when they are actually antlers. Semantics to say the least is some cases, but certainly not all!

So: Knapping = the creation of stone tools regardless of the material
Arrow/projectile + point, head = a pointy, sharp tool designed to penetrate something whether it is a stump, straw bale, foam target, food, or the enemy without.

Just my cent of two after taxes.
Ben

[JackCrafty]

Basically, flint is an extremely fine grained chert that occurs in chalk beds.  Yes, flint is a variety of chert.

Flint exists in the Americas but does not have the same history of intense quarrying as it does in Europe.  And not all flint in Europe is of good quality.

Georgetown chert that occurs in chalk beds is every bit as good as European flint and is getting more and more attention in the quarries.  I'm sure there are other chalk beds in the US that could be mined for flint as well.