Specialized Knapping in the Ancient World

[@LazyCookPete]

After about three years of learning my mentor said, "Congratulations Pete, you are now at the level of an eight year old neolithic boy!" 😆

[@frankparrish5657]

After teaching me to flute a Clovis, my much more skilled instructor said "now we can teach you how to make a proper Desert Side-Notched arrowhead.

[@billflint3369]

Please keep things like this coming. Thanks for the video's for our education and entertainment.

[@tonypodkanowicz5490]

Marty Reuter is one of a kind. There will never be another like him. He knows more about stone and knapping techniques than anyone out there. His dedication to knapping experimentation has really moved the art of knapping light years ahead anyone else. Tell me who else can replicate 30 plus points a day and they all look like the old ones. He is truly the top knapper of our time.

[@brandonjackson7168]

Thank you for your great instructional videos,you show and tell the right stuff,I have hunted arrowheads most of my life ,often trying to make one never having any luck,but last night after watching a couple of you videos,I managed to make a really nice point,amazing,thanks again

[@huntprimitive9918]

thanks very much for following along

[@brianmusial6051]

I just found your channel…bro! These vids are AMAZING. I am a student of archaeological and I am absolutely in love with this content. Ty!

[@dooleyfussle8634]

The other motivator is modern knappers aren't having to go out and make meat with their points. Going hungry keeps you focussed!

[@scottbelongie8093]

I have a varney point late paleo that is remarkably thin and parallel flaked

[@anonymousthesneaky220]

Going hungry keeps you focused right up until the point when you can't.

[@frankparrish5657]

I once saw a real arrow point on an archaeological site in Nevada, miles from nowhere that looked like the 50 cent flakes for sale in the gift shop.

[@ANXIETOR]

Interesting point. Makes me think of point or preform cache photos I’ve seen where there’s a dozen identical artifacts found piled together. One person made them, then stashed them for later.

[@Chris.Davies]

Our ancestors developed what can only be literally described as incredible skill working stone and bone. Evidenced by your examples. It shows human role specialisation at a very early time, and the level of achievement is astonishing.

[@BookOfMormon4GenZ]

I really enjoy your line of thought on the subject of passing information from one generation to another. Here, in the Western US, especially in the deserts, we find many bird points. Some are Elko. Some are Desert Side Notch. Some may be transitional. In the next life when we're able to talk with one of the aborigines, we'll find out how items were made, trade goods and routes, religious rituals etc... until then...

[@jimajello1028]

I like your presentation. Especially the part about specialization & stimulus diffusion. Thank you.

[@larryreese6146]

Always enjoy your videos. Always learn something. Not a flint napper myself, but I always felt a connection to the guy who made the point and a sense of awe at the skill it took and the length of time that a man's creation can last. It's sort of like someone reaching through time and tapping you on the shoulder. Yep, they are works of art that have lasted a long long time.

[@patrickbush9526]

My favorite Point overall is the Cahokia point. And you do a outstanding job at it. I look forward to every video that comes out kudos brother

[@RickCarter1776]

I really appreciate your perspective on earlier man's possible thinking and how they may have done what they did. It reminds me it takes more than just looking at the evidence and theorizing about how and why they did what they did, but rather making these things the way they did, using them the way any did, and the assimilating all that data and trying to come up with hypotheses about the data in order to understand earlier mankind.

[@Wilders53]

My style looks exactly like your points! Awesome work my Knapping brother

[@youtube.commentator]

Thank you for your uploads

[@j.shorter4716]

Just recently started playing around with fluting. Obsidian flutes really well… also breaks really well. I guess obsidian + a long point = high chance of no point at all after you attempt to flute. Haven’t figured out how to support a point like that yet.

[@stonehead6257]

Interesting concept and totally plausible, Thank you for sharing I dig all the vids you produce!

[@reneeslack2043]

I am a Knapper myself and I think your theory just might be correct, I've been knapping about 40 years or so and like you said, I made this next day I made that but never focused on any particular type, that is until about 10 years ago I went to paleo and pretty much nothing else, I'm still not the greatest but can put out thin, well fluted Clovis, Cumberland and Folsom points, as well as the unfluted types, when I first started I broke more than I made, I now have a success rate of about 9 out of 10 points, and one thing I would like to make clear, I take a diamond engraver and permanently mark my points, not only for my ego, lol, but sadly there are some who try to pass new for old, and that I will nor tolerate with any of the points I knapp, I strongly suggest other Knappers to do the same, there is no worse feeling than putting your hard earned money, sometimes 1000s into a point and later finding out it's modern made

[@kelvinsparks4651]

I agree with you Ryan . I Also think that in a stone age community there may have been many specialists making many various stiles of points and blades and then trading them with each other , after all these tools were essential for day to day life.

[@Shrouded_reaper]

The fluting on that folsom head is INSANE

[@hansenator5000]

Good video! I’ve also thought about how specialized ancient knappers were towards a certain style. I also think that paleo knappers were especially good at their craft because they were possibly the only one in a group who was knapping. They also had to be great knappers because everything had to be perfect in a harsh environment like the ice age. Lastly, they also didn’t know where the next toolstone source would be, and thus had to make the most out of every piece of rock they picked up.

[@frankparrish5657]

Changing a tire takes a jack and a tire iron, not skill. Love the video and your side notch points are awesome. My Clovis hold is two "yard stick" shaped pieces of oak 10-12cm long, with two buttons of wood pitched to one end (four total). It looks like a wooden staple puller when it's wrapped with string around the point, with buckskin around the tip of the point to pad it a bit and adsorb extra energy from the flute removal. It prevents end shock.

[@bjellison905]

I traded my bopper in for a hammer stone. Found one that fit my hand almost as if it was made for it. I can get a good flick of my wrist to get good flakes. I'm having trouble with turtle backing on smaller pieces. Also I cant get my flakes to go to the center like you talk about. Only recently started and I'm hooked, I just want to get better or to see if my points could actually be used

[@robwilcox2854]

Awesome video😎epic theory

[@drivethelightning]

Ahh I knew you would have this video. Thanks. Prolly gonna buy a starter kit.

[@jeffchandler8813]

Great Discussion

[@henryscotts3590]

Very good video, thanks.

[@ncoutdooradventures6148]

I'm assuming, when you attempt to make a fluted point, that you're trying to make the flute in a "finished" piece. What if you was to preshape the piece, put in the flutes, then finish the edges around the existing flutes??

[@aaronengland8289]

This is exactly the kind of brain power that was used to create these designs in the first place.

[@7andrew2]

(rizin sun)I don't think that would work bcause the fakes would just hinge around the flute making it very thin in in the flute but very thick every where else . when in use it would snap because the energy could not desperse evenly. At least thats what an 11 year old thinks

[@ncoutdooradventures6148]

Andrew Conner yes sir. You mentioned Marty Reuter in this video. I found a "flintknappingtips" channel that showed making a fluted point, so I understand a little bit more of the process. I'm not sure if that channel is actually Marty or not! I did find another channel that said it was Marty doing the knapping ,, making a Danish dagger. I have to agree with you,, he's very good!

[@bjellison905]

I have tried fluting and the way that flaking works it would mess up your outer edges if ya flute it first. As pointed out itll hinge differently. Essentially you would end up with tall ridges around the fluting and shallow edges to cut with.

[@j.shorter4716]

@@bjellison905 There are several examples of original Clovis points that have intrusive flaking into the flute channel, so it was not always the last series of flakes removed. Also, preforms have been recovered that were broken during fluting- indicated by the platform remnant and no other signs of further flaking. These preforms often have irregular edges and have blunt, rounded tips; therefore, they lack any finish work.

[@averyobrien4974]

Could you Flint knap the out side of a bowling ball since it is a flakey material at least the older ones are

[@thefeatheredfrontiersman8135]

Billy was right! I learned on curved bottle bottoms mostly blue. And to this day those still turn out the most consistent and best looking! I still kinda suck at big stuff because of a lack of natural Stone to work. I do try to mix it up. And yes I'm building a jig.

[@evairvedolin3210]

Parabéns por mais um excelente trabalho.

[@coolappleapple8153]

keep uploading

[@lancemcilwainoutcastmetald5398]

Love your videos. I got to sit and knapp with justin cook a few times at Stan paynes knapp in near montgomery Alabama. I do ABO and have been for a long time. I do big blades like marty reuter only I don’t have the video skills to do KZbin videos like the other guys do. I make my own arrows with primitive tools. I have killed many wild hogs with my hickory bow and river cane arrows. But you have inspired me to start hunting with the atlatl and i am still very green at this style of hunting. I can hit the targets at home but in the woods i seem to get what we call buck fever and when i see a hog i get all excited and start shaking really bad and miss every time. I missed one with my atlatl at 8 steps. Thats just plain embarrassing. Any way I really enjoy your videos and you inspire me tremendously. Thanks

[@PrimitiveTim]

Lol you made me anxious dropping that folsom even though I know it's a cast.

[@whiterabit09]

Your videos are really interesting, because you have your own takes on paleo era...

[@huntprimitive9918]

thanks. I actually try to approach ideas with easy practicality rather than a complex reason. Often times the simplest answer is the best answer

[@ryanbeard1119]

Since you are into the scratch stuff, what types of bow wood holding primative systems can be produced?

[@jonpatterson7211]

Ryan, I know this is way off topic, but my question regards your atl atl builds. There's a young man who has a channel called Indian Trace. He occasionally comes across what he calls "banner stones" or atl atl weights. Where on the thrower did the weight go? Or did it go on the spear? The ones he finds, whole or broken, have a hole drilled through the center, and look more like they would have been attached somehow to the spear. Thanks for a great channel.

[@patrickbush9526]

Good point 😁

[@elijah4606]

With regard to the flutes, I have no experience knapping, but what about placing a flaking tool perpendicular to the surface before striking the tool on the end opposite the surface of the stone, in line with the desired flute? Would that be any different from just using a pressure flaking tool?

[@chuckhenry4059]

So true!!!

[@dgundeadforge17]

I attempted to flint knap today with glass bottle bottom. The dog chew toy antler worked but I had to grind it to re sharpen. Only made a tiny resin looking piece. Any advice on not getting tiny flakes stabbing or cutting hand. Did Neolithic people have super thick hand skin?

[@drivethelightning]

Ever think they mightve fluted it and shaped around it?

[@DyersburgTennessee]

Would these points have been more serrated on the edge, or were they just worked down to a thin edge without intentional serrations?

[@huntprimitive9918]

all stone points like these have some degree of serrations, but it does depend quite a bit on the intended purpose from my experience. If it's a projectile, I really prefer some good serrations. If it is used more as a tool, then the serrations need to be smaller and more robust because as soon as you start sawing wood with it, it will knock those serrations down

[@7andrew2]

I'm a subscriber and I've seen you do lots of hunting video's but could you do a video a trapping or snaring.(maybe the Paiute dead fall) thanks for reading my coment.

[@huntprimitive9918]

thanks, I would like to but there are some legal issues with it I am still trying to sort out.

[@mightymite3958]

Your points are always bad to the bone, but what was that one point with the curvy notches

[@RANDOMLETTERS1111]

Where did you get that awesome shirt

[@huntprimitive9918]

I paint those. and thanks much. They are available at www.huntprimitive.com

[@thatsmallrockshop]

Woody blackwell is also a really good knapper

[@conifergreen2]

There is no chert in my area. Anyone know where i can buy some here in western Canada?

[@bryanwilliams4343]

so do you reckon that each member in a group or a tribe had specific job they did?

[@DyersburgTennessee]

I’ve thought about that. Like one person who just makes arrowheads all day, one person who cooks, etc.

[@Shrouded_reaper]

Knapping is likely the only specialised skill from the lithic age. Everything about lithic life was very straightforward. Anyone can cook meals, sew up leather, skin an animal, tan a hide, pluck birds and things like that with barely any training. Even complex (for the lithic age that is) leatherworking is actually pretty simple, I've watched some videos on it and I'm damn sure anyone with a basic hand to eye competency could put out fair quality canteens, arrow quivers, moccasins, backpacks and such with a few weeks of practice. But knapping is a whole different story if you want to create actually quality tools. Probably most lithic people would have a minimum competency of being able to put a basic edge on a rock but that would be about it. A tribe would probably have a few people who were masters with knowledge passed on down from parents and they would do the vast majority of tool creation. Especially in areas where quality stone was very scarce or had to be traded for, they would not be wasting good rock on low skilled people. Although if they were in areas with bountiful quality stone I imagine it would be quite a common past time to sit around knapping and in those areas most tribe members would be vastly more skilled than the average lithic person.

[@seanarthur2001]

Took me 7 months to make Clovis points every time without breaking. I had to break many eggs to make an omelette! 😂😂😂

[@esben181]

What happens if you do flintknapping underwater?

[@tonypodkanowicz5490]

You drown

[@electronicfreak1111]

I’m glad I just do this for fun

Another point is that they made these for utility not for the sport of it. They ate 'cause of these tools. If they were transported in time to nowadays, they'd put iron points on takedown recurve bows (if they couldn't have a firearm) and be done with it. They'd say to us "go ahead making stone points that break almost every shot and wood selfbows... I'm gonna use that modern stuff that saves the time I will spend better by eating my barbecue".

[@coolappleapple8153]

yeaaa

[@shanek6582]

Is Jim Winn “paleomanjim” still out there making points? His channel back in the late 2000s is why I started but he dropped off the earth for some reason, I always assumed he got a divorce or something traumatic and he’d get back on KZbin but haven’t heard anything. Anyone know what happened?

[@truthsayer35]

Jim has quit....has shoulder or elbow issues

[@chuckkimber2773]

He seems to be around still and has a second channel doing model airplanes. He was one of the best at teaching and demonstrating Flint knapping on KZbin, but seems to have just become bored with it, from what I can tell.

[@chuckkimber2773]

@@truthsayer35 that's really too bad.

[@Rooster_king]

Yep that's the channel that got me interested in flintknapping as well.

[@shanek6582]

I’ve never made a dalton I’m happy with, seems obtainable but not so far.

[@hernerweisenberg7052]

Average life expectancy of cavemen was ~35-40 years. Because of that, it wouldn't surprise me if some of todays knappers might have more experience then even the longest lived cavemen knappers simply because their lives were so short. That ofcourse also makes their achievements that much more impressive ;)

[@dooleyfussle8634]

Average age is lowered by the high infant mortality. In other words, if you survived to adulthood, you stood a good chance of living into your 50's or even 60's.

[@281covfefe5]

👍🏻🇺🇸

[@shamarstevens2860]

I tried I couldn't build it

[@josephbishopbackwoodssurvi3918]

I Away thought of the primitive people have going to work like we do and knocked out so many points a day stop go home knockout so many points a day stop go home 9 to 5 job that's what catch site have always looked like to me

[@dinhnguyen5371]

Hello

[@coolappleapple8153]

xcoooool

[@kirtstoneking5339]

I liked them in-liked, sorry I’ll re-like after “666” lol