Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Flintknapping => Topic started by: benp on May 17, 2018, 11:11:24 am

Title: Red/brown flint
Post by: benp on May 17, 2018, 11:11:24 am
Hello all, I just started my first point out of some obsidian since that was the only material I could find to buy in a rock store. I live on the east coast of NC and ain’t many rocks to be found naturally. But the reason for my post here is that years ago my brother found a arrow head point in the field and is my favorite point I’ve seen. We thought of it as red flint and I wanted to try and make some just like it but can’t seem to find brown or red flint anywhere on the market as if it doesn’t exist.

I did find a small rock on a field path that I believe is the same material but I feel it is in no shape or size for me to knap to a point. So I wanted to make sure we identified the material correctly and to see if there is a source that I could buy some from.

The point is small and is sort of waxy looking compared to the glassy look of obsidian.
Title: Re: Red/brown flint
Post by: benp on May 17, 2018, 11:13:09 am
The rock I found
Title: Re: Red/brown flint
Post by: mullet on May 17, 2018, 01:10:23 pm
The red color could be patina and the real stone might not be that color. You can soak the point in mineral oil for about a week and it will show you the color without patina. After you take it out it will revert back to the former color in a week or so.
Title: Re: Red/brown flint
Post by: Zuma on May 18, 2018, 10:26:06 am
Pretty sure your point is Jasper.Most likely imported from Virginia.
 Maybe even Pennsylvania.
Here are some I made from VA jasper recently.
Zuma
Title: Re: Red/brown flint
Post by: Tracker0721 on May 19, 2018, 08:53:20 am
Could it have been a heat treated piece? That usually gives a waxy consistency.
Title: Re: Red/brown flint
Post by: Hummingbird Point on May 20, 2018, 11:18:28 am
East coast of NC makes me think:

http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/arch_DHR/Lithics/Pebble%20Jasper%20Chert.html
Title: Re: Red/brown flint
Post by: JEB on May 20, 2018, 01:15:25 pm
Kind of looks like coastal plains to me????
Title: Re: Red/brown flint
Post by: Zuma on May 20, 2018, 04:02:25 pm
East coast of NC makes me think:

http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/arch_DHR/Lithics/Pebble%20Jasper%20Chert.htm

Good link Keith.
Jeb lf you are thinking along the lines of Flint River type chert, they are quite similar.
Zuma
Title: Re: Red/brown flint
Post by: benp on May 20, 2018, 08:42:50 pm
Thanks everyone for the responses. Those pictures and links were helpful

This piece I have no way of telling if it was heat treated since it is an artifact from Indians of the area. I never knew there were so many different rocks used for points with different qualities.