Flint Knapping

The Art and Skill of Creating Tools and Points Out of Stone

What a privilege it has been to listen to Curtis Decker, Mountain View resident, as he describes his interest in making points. Specifically, Curt is an apprentice in the art of making arrowhead points. Curt’s family has resided in Stone County since the early 1800s. Curt’s father, Benny Decker, told him points were so plentiful in the past, folks would skip them over the waters of local creeks as they did not find any use for them.

Curt completed a degree in sociology and studied anthropology. His face visibly lights up when he shares related Ozark anthropological facts. Now an apprentice in the art of knapping, he is well-versed on the subject. Listening to Curt is to revive your childhood imagination. You hang on every word he has to say. He outlined historical facts and current events related to knapping.

Try to visualize the forebears of this land. They used everything handmade for a purpose. The men hunted using knives, arrowheads, spearheads, drill points, and hammers. Anthropologists believe women made tools as well. Women made scrapers to clean animal hides for use as bedding and clothing. They also made knives and bone tools to prepare meat.

Living in the Ozark region was a daunting challenge. The environment was no doubt beautiful as it had been untouched by man. The people lived according to a strict code for the protection of all. They learned to survive animals, enemies and the elements.

Now visualize yourself in the wilderness and think about how you might survive darkness, cold nights, and hungry days.

Today, Curt enjoys making his own tools watching all of the styles of knapping on-line. While attending knap-ins he observed other artists create tools. Curt is an avid reader and finds the hands-on approach to be very gratifying. Curt shared some facts related to Ozark artifacts and terminology.

Lithics: A term that includes the analysis of recovered archaeological tools as well as the processes used in modern and historic toolmaking societies.

Knapping: Chipped stone tools are made by hitting a rock with a hammer stone, antler or modern percussion tool in such a way that fragments with specific sizes and shapes are extracted from it.

Knap-In Events: Family friendly events featuring flint knapping demonstrations and tutorials.

Materials Used in Knapping:

Pitkin Chert — rock associated with the Pitkin Limestone Formation of central Arkansas occurring along the White River and its tributaries. Other outcroppings occur from Batesville, Arkansas to Muskogee, Oklahoma. This rock may be gray, black and white. Flint, another name for chert is most often found near deposits of chalk or limestone.

Novaculite — a sedimentary rock composed mostly of cryptocrystalline (1-5 micron) quartz and is a recrystallized variety of chert. It is dense, hard, white to grayish-black in color, translucent on this edges, and has a dull to waxy luster. It typically breaks with a smooth conchoidal (shell-like) fracture. The word novaculite is derived from the Latin word novacula, meaning razor stone. Arkansas novaculite is recognized worldwide for its use as whetstones and oilstones, which are used for sharpening knives, surgical instruments, and wood-carving tools. In the early 1800’s, a quarry of honestone near Magnet Cove in Hot Springs County was mined by early settlers. Records show that novaculite mining in Arkansas was intermittent from 1885 to 1905, but continuous ever since.

Obsidian — Native Americans used obsidian, which is a type of volcanic glass.

Quartz — Rose quartz was held in high value by Native Americans for its healing powers and clear quartz was worn by some for good luck. In fact, the Navajo culture represents rose quartz as a symbol of love and love for others around you. Two derivatives of quartz, flint and chert stones are microcrystalline quartz and were used in tools and weapons of Native Americans.

Cotter — is a band of stone that is prevalent north of the White Rover. It is found on the river bank and will look like a smooth light brown polished stone. Once broken (spalled) it will have an opaque brown color inside.

In listening to Curt talk about flint knapping, and the study of Native American cultures, his enthusiasm is contagious. Things you may consider challenges today pale in comparison to the primal nature of the hunt and survival in the wilderness.

When asked about time to complete a tool, Curt said you may finish a Dalton blade (points that are leaf-shaped and sometimes serrated, much like a kitchen knife) in about three hours. Of course, this would depend on the skill level of the individual.

Be it known; Curt is adamantly opposed to any person representing their current work as an artifact. Curt plainly says, “I don’t believe in fake.” He is the type of artisan and collector that sets an example for other people. It is clear he respects ancient tools or any historical artifact. We agreed artifacts should be returned to tribes who once lived in the Ozark region.

As we closed our discussion of points and anthropology, Curt shared a goal. He wants to create a nice knife blade and haft it to an antler. He said, “I would like to harvest my own deer, with my own points, and process it with my own knife.” https://flintknappers.com/ events.php In Arkansas, the Water Creek knap-In north of Buffalo River and south of Yellville is typically hosted in October. https://www.facebook.com/ groups/1456015144495034/

The photos we are sharing show Curt as he works on a point. The display case reveals his handiwork. If you are inclined to engage in the art of knapping, we have included links to websites and Facebook groups you may want to research.

Facebook Group Art of Flint Knapping https://archeology.uark.edu/learndiscover/current-research

University of Arkansas, Archaeological Survey