Blade Core Pressure Blading Part 4

Shows completion of pressure blading the core, including rejuvenating the core platform with tablet flake removals and correcting errors on blade removals. The final core in not exhausted, but has around 20 to 30 potential blade removals remaining. This completes the series. I may do another segment on Micro cores if there is interest in it.

[@panamared3681]

It's interesting how such an ancient craft has come to have such a highly specialized vocabulary. Listening to your detailed explanation was thoroughly enjoyable.

[@trumpetmano]

I swear to god, your videos are beyond interesting. I am mesmerized watching you work stone.

[@paleomanjim]

Thank you!

[@Ottmar555]

@@paleomanjim I'm still hoping to one day see that tepoztopilli. Miss your uploads!

[@LRWicker]

Great series Jim. I learned a great deal and now I am itching to try knapping myself.

[@willybee3056]

I'm only 70.. but when I grow up,, I want to do that too. If I started that now, my wife would stick the chest crutch where I wouldn't want to use it... Thanks for sharing your videos. And keep up the good work.

[@paleomanjim]

Thanks, I'm now in my 70's as well!

[@humbertoperinni]

I don't know why i'm watching all this... but it really keeps me relaxed... I guess i'll start doing that... Hugs from Brazil, friend. Thanks for posting all your videos!

[@williamcleveland6715]

For sure you're definitely a professional it's amazing what you can do thank you for sharing that

[@deanwilmothii2861]

I must try this at some point. you're a great teacher. Thanks Jim, I love all the videos. very informative

[@theguywitheyebrows]

you are an enormous font of knowledge on this topic. watching your videos detailing the processes and such is like a college level class. thank you for this!!

[@paleomanjim]

Thanks, I enjoy sharing

[@TheFillerhoff]

Amazing. I never would have guessed that this was how it was done. So efficient. Thanks for the knowledge.

[@arheru]

Amazing! I am learning so much watching your videos. Thank you! =)

[@70xlt]

I've never seen this process myself.. Haven't followed rock/stone work to much but that was a very interesting series, Always up for learning new things and with beautiful blades being produced.. Being from the Southeast we have limited supply to the material you were using. Growing up we always called it Lava Rock.. Anyways back to the point--- Great series! I enjoyed it greatly.. Thank you and be-safe....

[@sticknstonesbrkbones]

That is awesome. I think the most interesting parts are when you show how you removed all the bad area @ 11:45 and how you rejuvinated the platform @ 12:53. I've learned so much about flintknapping from you man, thx

[@RagnarRipper]

I'm absolutely fascinated with this! Thanks for your thorough explanations.

[@TheLordsxdad]

Just watching your skill and techniques inspired me to make some tools and start knapping thank you Jim God bless you

[@tolbaszy8067]

Superb!! Incredibly thoughtful and well organized tutorial! Thanks!

[@paleomanjim]

Thanks!

[@dangunit69]

Jim, you do amazing work! I for one would love to see a series on micro-blade techniques.

[@edwilliams9914]

Terrific video! Thanks. Back in Anthropology school in the early '70s, our professor, who did his field work in Teotehuacan described this technique to us and then as a special treat invited two of the "Rock Stars" of Mesolithic and Neolithic toolmaking do demos for us -- Francois Bourdes (meso) and Don Crabtree (neo). Bourdes was an expert in Neanderthal methods and made some beautiful percussion flaked tools for us in chert and flint. But the highlight was Don Crabtree, the new world obsidian expert, taking obsidian flakes just this way, flake after long flat flake, and then doing these beautiful *deeply* fluted arrowheads out of them. Astonishing technique and astonishingly delicate and beautiful resultant points -- sharper-than-razor lace and in their day, traded all the way from Mexico up to Illinois (found in burial mounds). It wasn't quite fair to Bourdes, who was the world's expert at his tools but his tools were examples of 30,000 years earlier in the game. So it was like watching one guy make a Porsche and the other make (a really first rate) Flintstonemobile. But they toured together often so they knew that's just how it was and laughed it off. Crabtree gave me enough scraps to have the floor of my dorm room covered with slivers of obsidian to step on for weeks. But I've tried to describe pressure flaking to people for 45 years and they just dont get it or don't believe it, but now I can point them to you. Amazing to watch -- can't thank you enough!

[@paleomanjim]

Thanks for sharing that. I have videos of Crabtree and Pelegrin showing their blade making skills. I really wish I could have met them in person. I am surprised that more people are not into blade making. For me it was more challenging that bifacing and I think that is what attracted me to it. I assumed I would be able to master it quickly because of my bifacing skills, but I found it was far more exacting to master and errors were much harder to correct. The result is the blade maker really strives to avoid errors in the first place. So the focus on perfection is extreme. We toured a museum in Denmark that has hundreds of blades on display and I was blown away. And the Meso Americans ability to work obsidian down to absolute perfection is amazing as well. I often tried to picture in my mind how those guys might have done it, how they supported the core and the crutch or tools used. Sure would like to see more modern knappers explore blade making, it is a fantastic journey! ...Jim

[@hotboydog222]

The shape of that core is beautiful

[@Flintknappingtips]

hammerstone rejuvenation flake and blade at 8:50 very well done. Very nice!

[@MrLokilis]

Fascinating.. thank you for making this video series.

[@cliff4377]

wow, you make me want to try this stuff on the most amazing piece of obsidian I've ever seen that I found at a campground

[@paleomanjim]

Obsidian is awesome stuff, straight from Mother Nature

[@ByakuganWhite]

That chunk of obsidian was beautiful. I wish I lived someplace I could just go out hiking and pick up something half that size XD

[@paleomanjim]

Great, glad to see some interest in the micros. I made a couple small ones earlier today. Great practice and a good way to put small blocky chunks to use!....jim

[@ThomasSmith-os4zc]

Very interesting. I go to Mexico once a year and at first I was studying lithics but now I study glyphs and iconography.

[@paleomanjim]

The old blade cores are simply amazing!

[@paleomanjim]

Good question. These blades were probably used for a multitude of purposes, similar to what you might use a pocket knife for. Some may have been hafted to a bone or wood handle. In some places in Meso America these blades have been found widespread throughout the village, so it appears that skilled craftsmen were making them and ordinary folks were using them. In parts of Europe the blades were used on the bottom of threshers for harvesting.....

[@Zane-It]

The blades these cores produce are poison. I absolutely love them.

[@paleomanjim]

Yep, same here. Blades are by far the most efficient method to maximize cutting potential of any rock. Like getting dozens or razor blades from a small rock! Our ancestors were on to something!

[@MrPaddlingthenet]

today was the first time I looked into knapping. Facitnating😁 btw you have a very pleasant voice/accent.

[@paleomanjim]

I been busy with other projects lately, but I do plan to make more videos.....

[@jameswilliams6034]

A standing a good job on those knives thank you very much I really enjoyed it man I learned something thank you thank you. 😎

[@youtube.commentator]

How do you not get a million cuts? Honestly, it's impressive

[@billl605]

Amazing work!

[@flintknappingtools]

Man that looks nice! Looks like fun too!

[@chrishatherley3617]

wow ! Great job. thanks for making the video.

[@thefeatheredfrontiersman8135]

Ok I'm thourghley convinced... I'm off to go build a chest crutch...

[@paleomanjim]

Its the way to go. Still takes some practice to learn but with practice awesome blades are possible.

[@paleomanjim]

Will do, probably in October...

[@paleomanjim]

I have several on my website which is shown on the homepage, thanks....jim

[@VCOOGAN]

Simply awesome

[@Axceer_]

rock type. thanks for answering my ques!!!!!!!

[@bobill14]

Beautifully done..... Question- could you just hammer the end of your chest pressure stick rather than using chest pressure? Thanks....

[@rodneyjones2711]

What will you do with all those fake blades? Just curious.

[@colinbramer5531]

Hey I’m wondering why the blades need to be trapezoidal shaped if ur gunna grind down one side to fit tighter in the aztec macuahuitl? And you mentioned in the Macuahuitl making series that if we were making one and need blades to hit you up, I was also wondering if you’re still in the blade making world today?

[@paleomanjim]

Its a matter of stability in the blade making process. As the blade is peeling off from the core it is very stable following just below 2 ridges instead of one. Many cultures around the world made blades and they always have that shape. Triangular blades can be made but they would tend to terminate short of the distal end of the core. Most blades made in Meso America were used for day to day activities by families, most homes have blades found in them. Both edges could be used so this extended the life of the tool

[@charlesdeshler202]

This is very cool, and you do a bang up job demonstrating it. What are these blades used for?

[@paleomanjim]

Sorry, I have never tried making one, they are cool though. I dont know of any videos on them....

[@paleomanjim]

Flint! It has a hardness of 7 in the raw state. ....

[@FlOOBEH]

Hi! I am a beginner flintknapper and I found your channel. Great skill, control, and experience! You have helped me a lot with my flintknapping; thanks. But one question: what are all the uses for these blades?

[@randyscott9034]

So would these be used as knife blades are further worked into arrow heads

[@physhstyx5368]

socks and sandals

[@Frazzler666]

you are a genius!

[@justdoingit.43]

I have a couple of questions about this technique. Do you think this is how the American Indians and perhaps the Clovis people did it with chert? I mean it works good obviously with obsidian but how does it work with chert? Or do you think they used some type of a lever device in a jig? It would be interesting to see you try to make a Clovis point with that technique.

[@paleomanjim]

It works well with chert too, most of the blades from Europe were doen using chert/flint. In some cases huge levers may have been used as well as indirect percussion

[@paleomanjim]

Thanks, Flintknapping can be a lot of fun, enjoy the journey!

[@Axceer_]

What is the strongest material i can use for flintknapping and where can I find it and where do I have to pay attention to wen I am looking for it

[@isaacnewton4741]

I also don't have a source of obsidian. I would love to get into knapping but it looks like it takes allot of practice and without an affordable source for materials it looks like it wouldn't be possible. If anyone has a source to share it would be greatly appreciated.

[@aaaaaaaaaa97]

Isaac Newton www.nativewayonline.com/novac.htm

[@moderndaypirate8931]

You can definitely tell what's cut with a CNC machine. They claim to be made by "hand"

[@paleomanjim]

Yep!

[@rex2074]

awesome thank you

[@bigbore9169]

What uses for such narrow and thin blades

[@paleomanjim]

Good question. Tons of uses actually. Many blades were cut or snapped into sections and backed with a handle to be used for various cutting purposes. Others were used for battle weapons such as the Macuahuitl (refer to my Macuahuitl videos). Flint/chert blades were used by the millions for grain threshers going back over 5000 years until as recently as the 1970's in Turkey. Essentially any cutting purpose. Blade making from cores is the most efficient method for producing cutting edges

[@rsmzm2000]

I don't quite get the goal here. I'm a knapper. What is the utilitarian use of these?

[@paleomanjim]

Thousands of these obsidian blades have been found in excavations in Meso America. It appears that the blades were made by master knappers and used by most everyone in the villages. Uses including cutting for a multitude of purposes as well as warfare for Maquahuitl's.

[@OcelotPwns]

so what does he do with these blades?

[@Ottmar555]

Make a macuahuitl!

[@johnthomas6224]

Drex33 he is hunting wooly mammoths an saber tooth kittens

[@WayneTheSeine]

Beautiful. Can this method be used with chert or flint. I assume that is obsidian.

[@paleomanjim]

Are you asking about tools or rock types?

[@choiceblade]

Dude. That was so cool. Will those blades last on an arrow head?! That'd be a shock. But who cares? They look like you could shave with 'em. Can you? Is it stronger than glass or the same? This is incredible.

[@paleomanjim]

+Michael Amos Yes, you can shave with them, I have done it! Just as sharp as razor blades. Same strength as glass, hardness of 5. In fact blades can be made from blocks of glass. Obsidian is just a natural glass. Obsidian blades can be fragile. Some were made from flint in Europe and other places and these were quite strong. They were also used to line threshers during the Neolithic and then used for harvesting early grains. A few guys were still producing blades for threshers up until the 1970's in Turkey! They used ball pean hammers to produce the blades. The stone age lives on!

[@MrFineJazz]

i don't have a flint source or a obsidian source near by do u have any ideas for what i should do

[@MaTella2]

neolithics.com has raw rock nodules you can buy - obsidian and other types. i get all my stone from there

[@MrFineJazz]

thanks

[@jonlennon3348]

I know this is an older video but out of curiosity where are you from. Your voice sounds familar like from the letchworth knap in. You do really nice work. Great video.

[@paleomanjim]

Have not been to Letchworth knap in, but I now live in Nevada, thanks, Jim

[@eschelar]

Great vids. I just noticed that your shoes are almost the same as mine. Are those keens?

[@paleomanjim]

Not sure what type they are. When flintknapping I always take my shoes off before going into the house....keeps my wife happy!

[@jadekayak01]

great looking blades.do you sell them. I'm a lapidary and have been thinking of knapping for a few years. also shave with straight razors so this would be great as an exercise

[@thecuriousnomad4712]

Sorry, I do not sell blades. Thank your for your interest.

[@margilvale7648]

you are doing percussion , preasure flaking is different

[@hairyballbastic8943]

1:31 Is that a spider on the bottom of the core?

[@paleomanjim]

Well not really! but thanks....jim

[@MrFrankylll]

I have no idea what youre doing (dont see that as hate or anything bad) im from germany and we dont have anything like that. are you making a accessoir or a blade?

[@thecuriousnomad4712]

MrFrankylll The blades that are removed from the core are very sharp cutting tools and can be used for a variety of purposes. Many stone age cultures specialized in making blades, including areas of prehistoric Germany where blades were made from flint. Since these earlier cultures did not have metal these flint blades could be used in similar ways to using modern knifes, from scrapping, butchering, war clubs, threshers, shaving, etc.....

[@MrFrankylll]

oh, Thank you very much. Now i know better. This channel contains very interesting content especially the fire making series

[@gt42rted]

How did you make your chest crutch?

[@jasoncalhoun1979]

Cool man

[@mechathanos5444]

whats the point of making them blades

[@johnthomas6224]

Mecha Iroh it’s all about the craft and enjoying making something by hand

[@XWarriorServantX]

Why have you stopped making videos? :(

[@majo2626]

where do you get your obsidian from?

[@paleomanjim]

Glass Buttes , Oregon and Davis Creek, California

[@carlsenberg8999]

Beautifuel stone

[@maartenperdeck798]

as blades com from the inner side, they are sterile and so usable for sterile chirurgical purposes!

[@najroe]

Maarten Perdeck Sadly tey are NOT sterile, not even clean in medical terminology. It certainly is cleaner than a dirtcovered glass shard from a garbage strewn alley but NOT STERILE. Sterile is very strictly specified, look up what is required to call something sterile from some reliable source (CDC would be one) the term is not to be taken lightly.

[@sarge727]

learn to spell, you inbred fuck

[@jadabull]

sarge727 learn to not be a dolt!

[@jadabull]

onelove oh really? Please enlighten....Just because Jesus didn’t kill with a sword doesn’t mean he wasn’t a warrior. His sword was his Word that he spoke. Exodus 15:3 says: “The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name”. Exodus is pretty early in the Bible. And then in the last book of the Bible, in Revelation 19, it says He’s coming back. As what? As a warrior. It says He’s coming back riding a white horse and wearing a blood-stained white robe, leading a mighty army with a sword.

[@jadabull]

onelove Exodus 15:3 says: “The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name” (NIV). Exodus is pretty early in the Bible. And then in the last book of the Bible, in Revelation 19, it says He’s coming back. As what? As a warrior. It says He’s coming back riding a white horse and wearing a blood-stained white robe, leading a mighty army with a sword.

[@BushMania4]

I know right!!! haha

[@CheekiBreekiSquad]

you dont by chance know how to make a flint axe or know of a video that explains how to make one

[@mariascognamiglio3096]

Hm

[@tradbowhunter53]

Paleomanjim. I'm 15 and really would like to begin flint knapping. i can never seem to get obsidian even when I'm camping in areas where it should be. i have heard of a place called glass buttes and would be ecstatic if i could go. Unfortunately, it is not a possibility right now. Anyways getting to the point, i was wondering if you could be generous enough to send some obsidian my way. I know it may be a lot to ask, but if you could message me regarding this, it would make my day. Thanks, Matt.

[@Liphted]

Did you end up doing it?

[@res1492]

you could make money by just selling the obsidian