Thinning in Flintknapping & Using Soft Hammers -

[@stumccabe]

A wonderful demonstration of skills learned over a long time. It makes one appreciate the ingenuity of our ancestors. Thanks Doc.

[@adamharper389]

I have been wanting to learn to flint knap for a few years, I have had people explain it to me and I have watched videos, but with your explanations I now at the very least understand it in theory, now I need to get some stones and start practicing... I found your videos while I was learning how to make my own hammer from antler earlier today...now I get the concept on how this all works

[@mikeconner3748]

I'm sorry I just discovered your channel today. I've been knapping for over 40 years now, sat beside many of the old timers at various knap in's. Your knapping skills are good but your instructional skills are even better, only a couple of knappers I know can pull that off. I'm in West Texas and all my work is strictly Abo I just can't make myself go any other way. Love seeing the younger knappers sticking to their guns and keeping the faith. Thank you. .......You got another subscriber.......We'll discuss the Solutreans another day, I make a lot of Solutrean and Clovis style points.

[@ancientcraftUK]

Thanks Mike that really means a lot! Hopefully we can discuss it one day over a beer and some rocks when I’m next in the US

[@AesculusPavia]

@@ancientcraftUK I've just discovered your channel as well, and have thoroughly enjoyed all your content! My experience with knapping is roughly 10 years, but I've collected local artifacts here in Ohio for 35+ years, and experimental archaeology has only increased my knowledge and love of history. If your interested, the next time your in the US, Flint Ridge and many other ancient sites are not far from where I live. I also have a guest room to help save you the extreme cost of lodging, you would be more than welcome to stay and I would be honored to be your host.

[@dingolightfoot8823]

Fuck yeah! I just make stone celts.. I'm 26 and haven't perfected knapping.. I'm always finding daecite or however you spell it lol... I'm still practicing and made a bell beaker arrowhead a few days ago and still got a lot to learn but I can say this.. at least I'm doing something better than staring at a phone call day like most kids my age. 🤣

[@PaganEuropa.]

I'm thinking getting into knapping, now gathering the info about it! Your channel is a goldmine, any more info from anyone is deeply appreciated.

[@PeeWee33772]

Thank you so very much for this education. It is so very difficult at times to understand what is going through the person's head as they are trying, most times unsuccessfully, to guid a person, (Me,) through the process. You have enlightened me so much more than some of the most accomplished knappers have. Thank you for your patience and giving spirit.

[@jimmartinette9655]

One of the best learning/teaching video I've ever seen. Thanks!

[@robertmeadows7508]

' Experimental ' is the very word to bear in mind here as to 'try' is to be in the mind of our ancient ancestors who really needed to discover ways to survive ! I have used hard chalk to knap flint just by trying ,as I would never have believed it possible if I had just read it in a book ! I have had so much enjoyment along my journey finding out ! Love these little films that encourage others to have a go ! Thank you !

[@QuantumMechanic_88]

Dover gun flint .Beautiful work and Thanks .

[@JohnMartin-ze8cf]

you are the best teacher yet....Thanks for doing these videos for us.

[@Ateesh6782]

When at around 39:00 you say they left some of the cortex to demonstrate that they used “almost all of the cortex itself”, I assume you say “almost all of the core”, right? - With my limited experience, leaving the cortex, especially if it is chalk, is a very practical solution because the chalky cortex has a better grip even when wet or greasy than the glassy surface of the flint. But I can also see how one could be really proud of showing ‘I made the biggest possible tool from the stone I had’. - What you do is very useful: I love master knappers on YT but your way of explaining is very accessible to all those people who will probably never knap but are willing to learn a bit and appreciate the craft and history that much more for it. Thanks!

[@ancientcraftUK]

Your right it can aid with grip, however in the archaeology it's unusual for cortex to be intentionally left on objects other than handaxes and flake tools. This could be down to practicality or it not being necessary to remove it. I'm glad you've been enjoying the videos, thanks for watching!

[@christianwitness]

Wow! You are good. Very well done. A teacher at heart. I taught instrumental music as a first carret; then competed a MS in " earth sciences". I love rocks! my place ((southern Indiana, US) is upper mississippian transition into lower pennsy.. Mid carbon' in UK

[@christianwitness]

I think I have chalcedony or jasper here. High grade flint occurs to the south ( Harrison C., Indiana is locally " famous"). I live in Crawford Co., Indian .. Gteat show. thank you.

[@thecypherworks]

Excellent instructional video

[@cipher2]

this might be off topic of intent but thank you for blood pressure reduction via varying degrees of asmr!

[@simonphoenix3789]

So lucky being able to get giant blocks of knappable rock like that. The best I can hope for if I want pieces that size is obsidian, and that isn't as fun to work as flint or chert.

[@jamieelder7438]

Excellent video!

[@ofcourseofcoursebutmaybe]

Ever been concerned with dust, flakes, and so on in your lungs, causing damage to them? I read that flint mines may have caused early death to communities that were very involved in the mining/flaking...

[@skibidybop6575]

Just started to get into knapping and i was wondering where a good place would be to get flint would i get it online or should i look for it?

[@thecypherworks]

...Some of the info in the 'dreaded whiteboard' section was a bit of a eureka moment for me

[@stevenolan7972]

I’ll have to score the ending as a 10 !!!!!

[@ProxyMaestro]

Great whiteboard information

[@gingerdude94]

Really interesting❤

[@exdy-eb3dv]

Do you think oak could be use as soft hammer?

[@ancientcraftUK]

No, not dense enough. But box wood (buxus) can be used

[@exdy-eb3dv]

@@ancientcraftUK ok, thank you

[@dooleyfussle8634]

Any box the size you show is very unlikely in the US. If it does, it will likely get harvested for making woodblock printmaking. Box is very slow growing. That piece you showed is likely a hundred years old. I harvested a piece in Virginia around that size in a hedge on the grounds of an old plantation that I reckon was over 150 years old. Other dense woods include lignum vitae, ebony, and African blackwood but they are all extremely expensive and CITES regulated. One I've worked with recently is hop hornbeam, sometimes called ironwood. It's hard and dense. I might give it a try.

[@exdy-eb3dv]

@@dooleyfussle8634 thank you very much!

[@mikeconner3748]

@@dooleyfussle8634 I've used Texas Ebony and works fairly well.

[@bracoop2]

What’s thinninn precious ehhh, what’s thinninnnn?

[@bracoop2]

Is your brother the mp who debated Nancy Pelosi? If not he could be your doppelgänger

[@derekmacdonald4441]

All talk and very little action