All the flint knapping talk always gits me thinkin...Has anyone tried to replicate any stone ground tools? I have 2 axe heads I've picked up thru the years...Always thought it would be fun to try to make one? Maybe a side grinder, and a box full of discs...lol

I made one and hafted it with a switch of willow, heated about a 4 foot piece in the middle and wrapped it around the middle, then trimmed the length.I made the head from a high grade slate thats found here in Ny and just used a rougher granite stone to peck and grind it into shape. Very surprising that it works so well, not as well as a steel axe of course, but gets the job done. On some of the arrowhead sites I visit there are guy's that have shot deer, gutted and scrapped hides with flint tool's. One guy said that it took a long time to cut up a deer and he was constantly re-chipping an edge, as he did a few more he learned to cut more like de-boneing with-out de-jointing and to use a sawing motion instead of useing up a blade or 2 per deer.

Here are some full groove axes and celts and chisel's, the big axe, back row right, is freaking huge, 11" long and 5" wide about 14lbs!!, smaller dark one is 3 3/4" long and 2" wide and maybe a 1/4? lbs. different tasks, women or childs tools who knows the why? of the different sizes...the flint axe in front row center was used for buffalo, they would chop the cut's of meat out instead of cutting...

NICE!!!!!!!!!

Very cool Oneshot!

Has anyone ever tried to replicate these in recent years??? I would like to try, but have no idea how they did it back in "the day"...

Nice collection.  My Son-inlaw has a collection of arrow head he has collected from his grandparents farm near Columbus Georgia.  Every thing from spear points to bird points. He also has a stone grinder for making flour.

yes fireman 3311 there are guy's that do " experimental archilogy"(sp),probably could google it... basicly you hit away(pecking) at a stone with another stone(hammer stone), till it has the rough outline and then rub it against a corser grained stone(grinding, polish) to finaly shape the tool. The tools found on a site can tell you what went on there... you find hammer stones,knapping tool's, alot of flakes and debris...probably a site that was used alot and for long derations..... few flakes, broke points and not much hard stone tool's,,, probably a kill site or hunting camp. There are alot of stone tools that seem to be "just another rock ", but if you learn the types/styles that were used in your area so much more can be learned from the tools then the points and blades.... still like the blades though..hehehe

I find a lot of large pieces of chert(10-20lbs) that look like they have a concrete-type base. Im wondering if it is formed over time from pits they used to heat treat it, any ideas anyone?

This guy (Larry Kinsella) has a lot of experience in making and using pecked and ground tools.  Really fascinating stuff!  Here's his website:   http://www.flintknapper.com/

QuoteOriginally posted by fireman_3311:
Has anyone tried to replicate any stone ground tools?

Yes - I did! Not so much because I wanted a replica as such, but for the fun of it - and I started early! See picture:
 
a) very tough Aplite Granite, handground for weeks (!) on old carborundum wheel. I was about 12yrs. old when I did this one - long long ago   :(  
b) relative soft finegrained Greywacke, handground as before and not very long after a)
c) handground 25yrs. later from dark green Amphibolite - just to see if I still can do it    
d) the copper axe like the one from Ötzi (Iceman) which I made for fun some yrs. ago
e) original neolithic flint axe, ground on every side
f) unavoidable Bear Razorhead (1956) for comparison

 
viewed from the side

BTW: when backing a bow I use the copper axe - heated in water - to smooth down the rawhide when applying it with hideglue

Falk

Very very nice Falk, that copper axe is KILLER, awesome rendition. Thanks for the peak...It is interesting to note that stone tool manufacture,flint knapping, style of completed form, and use, is very simular from Old World to the America's, but there are difference's also, and normaly the two are'nt confused. Old World artifacts can age into the 50,000+ year before present range, bows were used much early in the Old World... hmmmm anyone know when the Bow was first dated to be in the Old World???(not Asia). Thanks again for the look...Another Glorious Day to Excel...

If you ever visit a knap-in you will see that there are several folks making pecked and ground stone tools as well.  I would guess the number of folks who do it the ancient way (as opposed to using an angle grinder) is relatively small (like less than 100).  Their stuff is awesome though and just as nice as anything you might find.  Here is a site of a friend from St. Louis who has been instrumental in our knowledge of ancient North American ground and pecked stone tool technology.

http://www.flintknapper.com/index.html

Look around on there and you will see lots of good info on making these tools.  When Larry does a demo he cuts through a log (usually about 10 inches in diameter) of seasoned wood just as quick as a guy with a steel axe could and people are always awed at that.  The stone axes are not used in the same way as a steel axe, but they work just as well.

Matt

Thanks ya'll, I knew somebody would know around here!!!

Falk, awesome work, thanks for showin us!!!!

Matt, there is a knap in here close, I'll check it out a little closer this time!!!