StoneBreaker-FSC.com
StoneBreaker-FSC.com
F. Scott Crawford
Carrollton, TX 75010
fscottcr
Stone Age Craftsmanship In The Space Age
This collection of "Paleo-Indian" and "Archaic" period style spear points and knife blades represents a few days work with "Keokuk Chert" from northeastern Oklahoma. The spalled and heat-treated stone was provided by Craig Ratzat of Neolithics.com from his quarry. These were all made in 2006 A.D.
This group of points includes the Dovetail and Desert Side Notch lance points seen on the "Services" page, and additional obsidian Ishi arrow points and an agate Side Notched spear point. These were made in 2005, 2006, and 2007 A.D.
These large "Paleo-Indian" and "Archaic" period style blades, knives and spear points are made of gray "Edwards Plateau Flint", from near Jarrell, in the Hill Country of central Texas. This excellent knapping material was used "raw", meaning without heat treatment. For comparison, the large center blade is 10-5/8" x 4-1/8". These blades were made in 2007 A.D.
Modern Practice -- Ancient Craft
From my workshop to your treasured display...each piece hand crafted with pride...with honor and deep respect for those who came before us.
From the time when I was 11 or 12 in the forested foothills of the western Oregon Willamette Valley and found my first arrowhead, an obsidian "bird point", in a field my dad had plowed for an experimental crop of maize, I have always wondered about the people who used these stone tools, and how they produced them.
When I found a chip of obsidian in a roadside park along the McKenzie River upstream from Springfield on a day trip to the mountains I decided to attempt to make my own arrowhead. That first point, with the broken wings of its base still sits somewhere in an old footlocker, along with a collection of several dozen points and blades which my father proudly displayed for the Sweet Home newspaper back in 1966 or so.
Over the years my interest in making the stone tools of our ancestors remained, though the actual practice waned, until about 1990. In the meantime, I retained and developed an interest in many aspects of archeology, even participating for several months in a major "dig" in the Middle East.
Upon my discovery of a rock shop in Ft. Worth, Texas, with a wide selection of sliced and spalled stone, I once again renewed my own knapping activities.
I soon discovered that the world wide web has made widespread connections to top quality stone more readily available than ever was dreamed of by the ancient, foot-weary practitioners of this fascinating craft. It also makes available to the student a wonderful range of teachers and mentors, who are dedicated to making certain that the hard-won skills which have been rediscovered by chance, study and experimentation over the past century or so are not soon lost.
This "new stone age" rennaisance is vibrant and growing, born of eternal curiosity and undying respect. It recognizes the debt all "modern" human lifeways owe to the equally intelligent, curious and creative generations who have gone before.
Today we have forgotten much that was known. Yet, around the world a growing number of curious minds and active hands is once again learning to practice many of the ancient skills. Somewhere, every day, the sounds of stone against stone, bone against stone, even soft metal against stone, ring out across the land.
For those who are again learning to use these ancestral skills, the satisfaction from a successful, intentional stone fracture, from a blow well struck, is both rewarding and captivating. If we can do it once, surely we can repeat the effort, with equal success. that is indeed the challenge. And the joy.
And, just like the ancients, we find ourselves seeking out unusual and beautiful stone with which to work. The human spirit still takes pride and glory from both the wonder of the stone and the skill of the work. The combination of growing, skilled craftsmanship and the natural beauty of the material reveals both the soul of the stone and the heart of the stone breaker.
These "Paleo-Indian" period Scottsbluff style lance points are made from very colorful "heat-treated" agates from Brazil. They were made in 2005 A.D.
F. Scott Crawford, knapper and webmaster.
Our goal is to help you collect many of the original ancient stone tool designs. Each piece is produced with detailed attention to Neolithic styles, methods and craftsmanship. They are hand made from authentic original materials; and all are provided to you at fair prices.
Plus, every piece is express shipped, fully insured, at not additional cost ... these services are included in the price.
We go to great lengths to assure that "No Aboriginal Persons Or Wild Game Animals Are Harmed In The Making Of These Tools." Sometimes the knapper suffers minor cuts and scrapes in working with the sharp stone, but I try to minimize that by always using the appropriate safety glasses, leather gloves, leather leg pads, and respecting the cutting edge of the stone.
Scott Crawford and wife, Ma Ying Yan (Maggie)
Our Chinese friends have made available a magnificent knappable processed quartz that works like obsidian, and looks like ice with red, pink and lavender inclusions. The Chinese name for this material, originally blended for the manufacture of glassy beads and other polished decorative items, translates as "Brilliant Water Crystal" which is a good description of the almost glowing, icy look of this vitreous (glassy) quartz based material.
Make Your Own Obsidian Or Flint Arrowhead.
It is easy when you know the 5 or 6 basic steps. You can learn how in less than an hour. "It's so easy that the cavemen did it" ... for thousands of years.
BEGINNER'S KIT INCLUDES:
- 18 obsidian and flint flakes;
- copper tipped flaking tool;
- deer antler tine flaking tool;
- leather hand pad;
- complete instructions with guide photos.
KIT: $29.95, plus $7.20 shipping. To order, click on this link to the Services page where the Kit listing has a Paypal ordering button:
FREE ARROWHEAD WITH YOUR KIT ORDER!
StoneBreaker-FSC.com
For other knapped items and additional information, you are invited to visit our other knapping web site:
For more information about making arrowheads, visit our new web sites:
and
StoneBreaker-FSC.com
F. Scott Crawford
Carrollton, TX 75010
fscottcr
