The journey of making a UK Neolithic ground and polished flint axe

The journey of making a UK Neolithic ground & polished flint axe.
An overview and analysis of my experience of spending over 180 hours using only authentic materials and techniques, that would have been available to my/our ancestors 5,000 years ago, to make a UK ground and polished flint axe.
If you would like to see more of the journey/process, there are other detailed videos available on my KZbin channel.

[@andrewstephens8790]

the flaked version looked amazing as well! i can only hope to some day be capable of something like that. then to reduce a full 3rd of the weight from such a nice axe, it is easy to imagine how valuable and magical something like that would have seemed to people who were used to the flaked style only. fit for a stone-age king.

[@flint.farmer]

Thank you. I was unsure whether to grind the flaked version, as it did look rather good in a flaked form too. But it won't be a too difficult assignment to knap another similar axe, so that I can keep a flaked example. They would make a great pair for display. 🙂 And yes, there were some that were clearly made and used to be very effective wood cutters. And other examples that were destined to be looked at and admired with high-status members of the group. Very intriguing pieces of stone.

[@grupogatodomato]

What a fantastic job. Congratulations. Greetings from the south of Brazil.

[@flint.farmer]

Thank you very much. And greetings from the UK. 🙂

[@danielflintknapping]

The patience and effort... Respect man it turned out perfect 👍

[@flint.farmer]

Thank you. Very kind. 👌

[@fvls_2110]

What a masterpiece! I have a granite hand axe in grinding process. But i dont have mutch time to work on it, so it still need to be ground on some parts, but at least the edge is alredy done, so i can use it...great video!

[@flint.farmer]

Thank you very much. Yes I know of some people who have spent more than 10 years working on hand grinding an axe, and still haven't finished. It becomes part of life and 'the daily grind'. It's quite obvious why some axes were only part ground, concentrating on refining the cutting edge. It was a compromise to gaining a more efficient axe, without the additional time commitment of grinding the larger surfaces.

[@collinblazer6427]

This is amazing! Great work, thanks for sharing your experience

[@flint.farmer]

My pleasure Collin. Very pleased you enjoyed it. 🙂

[@samgibson684]

Truly remarkable achievement Of course I subbed &👍🏻 Lifetime heirloom for your children and grandchildren etc

[@flint.farmer]

Thank you very much, that's kind of you to say. Yes I think it will remain the finest thing I have made with my own hands (certainly for a long time, if not indefinitely). And would make a rather interesting family heirloom. 😁

[@user-jk1ih6dw1l]

Congrats from São Paulo, Brazil!

[@flint.farmer]

@@user-jk1ih6dw1l Thank you. 🙏

[@ReasonAboveEverything]

And finally it is READY! Congratulations.

[@flint.farmer]

Thank you. 🙂 It was quite a long journey, but worth it in the end.

[@Wilders53]

Beautiful work!!! Amazing how it turned out!!

[@flint.farmer]

@@Wilders53 Thank you very much. 🙏

[@thomassparkes9739]

Have you seen the example in the Salisbury museum? It’s almost identical to yours. Congratulations for unlocking an ancient technique 🎉

[@flint.farmer]

I have not seen that exact example. But the BM had a wonderful wall display of many examples at 'The world of stone henge' exhibition a couple of years ago. I have seen quite a few others too. Thank you very much.

[@briantaulbee6452]

I didn't realize flint could polish out like that.

[@flint.farmer]

To be honest, I didn't know how much of a gloss finish I would be able to achieve using raw materials that I found. I know flint can gain quite a gloss patina over time, but actual polishing was an unknown. It exceeded what I had hoped for in the way of a shine.

[@levicalebblack]

Got my sub. Nice work.

[@flint.farmer]

Thank you. 🙂

[@przemysawmitura3273]

Zastanawiam się czy każdy Kamień można tak wyszlifować i polerować chciałbym spróbować pozdrawiam serdecznie z Polski 👍

[@flint.farmer]

Basically, yes. Only stones that conchoidally fracture can be knapped reliably. Others can be pecked to shape (such as the grindstone I used). Then yes provided the stone is hard enough to withstand the grind without breaking apart, it should grind smooth to shape. Not all will polish to the same gloss shine. Historical ground and polished axes were made of many different types of stone, around the world.

[@anthonycheek6469]

You are a master at this, I've been thinking about trying to hand grind for a while. Also, do you havw flint to sell?

[@flint.farmer]

That's very kind, thank you. Glad you enjoyed the process. No unfortunately I don't have any flint to sell. Good luck, if you have a go at grinding one yourself. 🙂

[@uuser9876]

Looks machine polished to me, proof me wrong.

[@analfvcker420-bg9xl]

Watch the video

[@flint.farmer]

I think all of the videos showing me crafting this axe completely by hand should 'proof' you wrong.

[@uuser9876]

@@flint.farmer still not showing in real time though

[@flint.farmer]

@@uuser9876 There's over 30 videos showing me grinding and polishing it by hand, in 'real time'. Also machine polished stone has signature marks, which aren't evident on my axe.... Because a machine never went near it. (I don't even possess the tools to do it with machines). Anyway, believe what you want. (Classic keyboard warrior with all of your achievements in life)!?

[@uuser9876]

@@flint.farmer questioning my life achievements over the case does not make you more convincing, tbf.

[@captainflint89]

congratulations mate , what a stunning creation , i dont really have any words that do it justice ! , just encase you missed my post on your other video , i have kept a few high quality pieces of the Arran pitchstone for you , get back to me and i will give you my email so i can post it to you , all the best , lawrence

[@flint.farmer]

Hey Lawrence. Yes sorry, I haven't had chance to catch up online. Join Flint Finds of History on Facebook (if you aren't a member already), and then message me please. I'm an admin on there and you'll see my posts. 🙂 Very much appreciated regarding the pitchstone, thank you. We'll work something out. 👍