Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Flintknapping => Topic started by: Tower on February 28, 2012, 12:06:18 am
-
This may seem like a pointless question to some, but others may not agree. HOW MANY KNAPPERS ARE OUT THERE? I've heard there are anywhere from 3000 to 10000 world wide. Its something I've always wondered. Knapping is in my opinion the true first profession not the other more accepted first profession. After all the man that could put food on the table I would think attracted wemon. Just a thought . Knapping is said to go back 1.5 million years. In the Archaeological contex. Remember hebrews were circumcized with knives of stone. Think about that the next time you knap a point.
-
I think you would have to define 'knapper'. I like to try, but I do not think of myself as a knapper.
-
Is that like asking someone to define the word IS? Knapper someone who fashions tools from stone through the reduction sequence. Percussion & pressure. Skill not a factor.
-
That is a good dif. I would think the numbers you quoted seem low. I have been to gatherings in West Nebraska that had a dozen people making serviceable tools. And this is a low populated area.
-
Never really gave it much thought.......till now.
-
First of all, ooooouch!!! with circumcision thing :-*. I personally know of at least 12 folks that knap and don't attend any organized events or forums, which makes me wonder just how many people knap as a whole. This is an interesting topic and would be interested in an educated estimate, if it is possible.
Tracy
-
Don--I have heard 7,000 to 10,000 here state side. I don't have a clue to the accuracy of that estimate. I do know that I sale rock and points to folks in pretty much every state, annually so I am guessing that the number is fairly high. I would be willing to guess that there at least 120 knappers in most every state, if not more, so the total goes up fairly quickly.
It is for this reason I think it would be pretty neat if we could have a national knap-in, somewhat centrally located here in the US. Could you imagine all the rock, points, fun and lies. It would be a blast!!!!
Kinley
-
Anybody need a circumcision,, hell, I'll give it a shot. ;D
-
Anybody need a circumcision,, hell, I'll give it a shot. ;D
As a moderator on this forum, I would think you would be the last person to make such a cutting remark. Shame on you.
(Would you charge for this service or only take....wait for it....tips!)
-
Anybody need a circumcision,, hell, I'll give it a shot. ;D
Eddie, you're a very generous and giving individual, but I will politely decline! :o
Tracy
-
[(Would you charge for this service or only take....wait for it....tips!)
[/quote]
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, I bout fell outa my chair on that one!
-
I had some time before work today and went by Glen Black lab on the IU campus, they have a knapping pit there. I didn't too much knapping, but worked on some hazel arrows w/ flakes. A guy stopped and we talked and he ended up being an abo reproduction knapper for the lab. Named Ed. He told me that 50% of the "artifact" collections that are brought into the lab for, value estimations, or donation are contemporary, ...reproductions. He also said that a couple of guys did a study and bought over a 1000 "artifacts" from an online auction, e..something, some w/ papers of authenticity and 87%!!...87% were reproductions. This is coming from a guy who reproduces for a living at Indiana University. Real cool guy, into the atlatl, happy to have me there. Looks like there's a lot of flakin goin on out there. I also showed him some of my points and he said that it looked like I needed to strengthen my plate forms better. He also said that if you can lift a flake off a piece w/ your thumb nail that it hasn't been laying n the ground for 1300 years. ;D It was a good day, dpgratz
-
JW, if you had enough do you think you could back a bow with them?
-
I hear they use "them" for eye lid replacements. Make you a little cockeyed, though, I hear. :o :o :P dpg
-
Sorry Tower, this thread got hijacked.
-
I've been just enjoying where its going.
-
Derik, there is a grad student over there named Rob ?? something and he sent me emails to have anyone who knapped to stop by the lab and knapp with electrodes hooked up to your noggin. He is trying to measure brain activity while knapping to map out the paleo brain or something like that. Sorry for not staying on topic Tower. This sort of relates.
Tracy
-
Tracy, ...huh? Rob? I may have to look him up. I went back today and nocked the arrow and started the slot for the point. Didn't see anybody though.
I kinda feel like the only electrodes I want to hook up are 7018s and their equals. ;D (welding humor), funny how these threads evolve, huh? Thanks DON!! ;D ;D dpg
-
Tower, do have any ideas/formulas to use to get a better estimate to the real # of knappers out there? Maybe Derik or I could drop the idea to the paleo lab at IU and see what they have to say.
Tracy
-
I would venture to say those numbers are close...but who really knows?? You would first have to determine a definition of what a knapper is....I realize someone put a description up, but that is way too vague. Someone who tries it once in my mind is not a knapper. I know a reasonable number of knappers that don't attend events, or boards.
Brian
PS Eddie I volunteer my mother-in-law :laugh: