Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Flintknapping => Topic started by: medic336 on August 25, 2010, 10:36:25 pm

Title: Looking for good flint
Post by: medic336 on August 25, 2010, 10:36:25 pm
I live in NE Alabama in the mountains and I'm having a very hard  time finding good flint. Any ideas on where to look and in what conditions to find flint that is worthy of knapping?
Title: Re: Looking for good flint
Post by: Bill Skinner on August 25, 2010, 10:54:03 pm
The headwaters of the Mulberry fork has Bangor and Dover.  The Tennessee River has knappable chert.  Check under bridges and road cuts.  You have Ft. Payne up there also.  Bill 
Title: Re: Looking for good flint
Post by: arappaho on August 26, 2010, 04:58:29 pm
Hey medic,
That's a great area where you live. I would love to get to the Mulberry one day!
There's the Flint River below Albany, Georgia, has good material. But keep in mind that "flint"
is a very generic term for knapping materials and what you are really looking for in your
area is chert, rhyolite, quartzite, etc. Very little true flint.
You might want to do a little research and see where the material the prehistoric indians used
in your area came from.
Also, check out your landscaping rock dealers in the area. Lots of time they will have things like
Tennessee Fieldstone, which is often times good knappable chert for sale by the ton and 50 lbs
might cost you $5.00.

Good Luck,  Joe
Title: Re: Looking for good flint
Post by: leapingbare on August 26, 2010, 08:37:59 pm
I did not think the ft Payne formation went that far east.
Title: Re: Looking for good flint
Post by: medic336 on August 26, 2010, 11:48:03 pm
I live in Ft Payne just most of the stone hear is fractured..I can find lots of discarded chips and chunks left behind by the local Cherokee population but its very hard to work most of it..Think I will try the mulberry fork though..
Title: Re: Looking for good flint
Post by: leapingbare on August 26, 2010, 11:59:04 pm
I'm sure the flakes and spalls predate the Cherokee.
 If your finding flakes keep looking in those areas and your find the rock.