Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Flintknapping => Topic started by: iowabow on June 15, 2012, 03:44:39 pm
-
When I started knapping I did a lot of thinning with copper and then with the ishi stick but when I switched to the antler I had trouble thinning and reducing without steps. With the copper it seems like i can just power through platforms without having to do a lot of preperation work. So if I work the stone the same way with antler the flake will step or not release at all. Below are pictures of my flakes that I have removed by creating ridges and then preparing each with relief flakes like nipples. The X flakes are those that have been removed and the A flakes are the flakes i plan to remove. on the back side the flakes do not the middle because of the dip.
-
Looks like the start of a follow-along. If so, great start and looking forward to next pics. Could you show a pic of a platform that you set up. What is the stone? and looks like you had a pretty good preform to start from?
-
Looks like the start of a follow-along. If so, great start and looking forward to next pics. Could you show a pic of a platform that you set up. What is the stone? and looks like you had a pretty good preform to start from?
The preform was from a rough rock of Burlington chert. I can show you the pre platform phase. When i set up for a flake i will take a few more pictures.
-
Thanks for the pics. and info. Just wondering if using hammer stones would have the same hinge issues as antler. Do you think it's a mass issue or more about the hardness of the billet? Also I wonder if it's harder to control how much of the platform edge comes in contact with the billet? Anyway, I sure enjoy seeing the abo work!
-
I think that it is kinda both. The antler is absorbing some of the energy but the mass is compensated by just using a larger antler but contact area might be larger. Makes for intresting thinking. I was able to remove each of the flakes with little trouble by preparing each platform but lost the continous ridge because of the large ridge near the base. I should be able to isolate that large ridge at the base later. Also i got a small step from the presure flaker on the last flake. I am not worried at all about the step because it is very small and sits in the middle of the platform. also that os small potatoes comapred to the reduction plan for the back.
-
Ive GOT to learn that technique from ya, John. Nice flakes!
-
Ive GOT to learn that technique from ya, John. Nice flakes!
Heck ya you will pick it up in 5 minutes. It is the same as copper but just more carefully done.
-
Wow. It's hard for me to explain what I see to others and you just did it . If I think when I'm knapping I fail . It just has to happen
-
More
-
More
-
All I need to do at this point is push deltas and bring tip to a point, notch and the point is complete. But that's not what I'm going to do. I have been working hard on co-lateral edge flaking. So my plan is to push of deltas with punch. Then start my flaking pattern.
-
So far 15 flakes have been removed. I am very lucky that they have not stepped. There are about 6 to 10 small pressure flakes removed before percussion of isolated platform. About 6 very small flakes are removed to create the platform. Then two lateral pressure flakes are removed to create the isolated ridge. Two relief flakes are taken from the back side.
-
As you can see from the last picture the preform is left a little thick so we will have some convexity for the final flakes.
-
At this point I think it's important to note wider platforms create wider flakes narrower platforms create longer more narrow flakes. Good examples are the last 2 flakes
-
I am not sure why everything I'm drawing is working perfectly but it normally does not happen this way. Honestly I am really not this good. Scott will tell you he's seen me break a lot of points.
-
I settled on a scottsbluff because it fits the preform and has some diagnial flaking. I must have been getting tired because i labeled both sides B . One has a c step so i will call them b and c sides. I have rough shaped the form and set platforms on each side as indicated by the hack marks. Take a minute and look at how clean the preform is before flaking. If you have steps or lack of convexity it will not go well. I have 2 but they are in good places. My thoughts are on the lack of convexity on the c side. I am hoping that the thickness of the preform will allow the flake to teavel because i am going to take a bit more of the platform. Ok so that is the plan as of now. If this fails i will make it a first view.
-
Scott the point i am coping is the one from brown county il
-
Very nice description of your work. Good choice of points to copy.
-
Wow, you're puttin on a show! Can't wait for the finished product!
-
I also had this in mind
-
The first side looked ok
-
But as i started the second side on the second flake and before i put an anil behind the stone i had this happen. With one flake it took over half the edge of the side i just finished wow!!!!
-
So the scottsbluff was only a dream so i continued with the hopes of a first or planview point. I was ok with either point because both are very cool to make and fit the plan. After finishing this point I am very please and proud of the way the tools preformed.
-
This one shows off the flakes better. Hope this post helps anyone wanting to try ABO
-
Wow....that definitely is something to be proud of ;)
-
Thanks, I always wanted to be able make points with just antler and bone tools. I am real proud to have made to this point. The antler just works the stone in a different way. I wondered why the ice man had an antler flaker but carried a copper axe. Maybe in some respects it works better . I find that the antler likes to hold the flake longer . I also find that really small flakes can be removed from very small platforms. I cant say that I have walk away from copper but for the last 2 weeks I have been without it.
-
John, this is a really nice demostration of abo technique. Well planned and executed. I'm sure alot of people could learn from this post. Thanks for sharing your time!