During the Neolithic period, flint tools were produced by
craftsmen called flintknappers. They split flints into rough shapes and
then knocked pieces off to form the shape of a tool. Final adjustments
were made using a technique called pressure flaking. Many flintknappers
were highly skilled craftsmen and were equivalent to the metal-working
blacksmiths of the later Iron Age. Flintknappers generated vast amounts
of waste material, as they worked producing tools including: scrapers,
axes, knives and arrowheads. Mounds comprising excavated soil and
chalk, plus heaps of flint chippings can still be seen on Cissbury
Ring and at Grimes Graves today.
My wife and I watched John Lord demonstrating the ancient
craft of flintknapping, during a visit to an event organised by Cromer Museum, one day in 1997.
Flintknapper John Lord demonstrated how to split a large
flint producing a suitable blank using a rock hammer.
Having split the rock he roughed out the shape of an axe
using a hammer made from a piece of antler to knock pieces off.
The final shape of the axe blade.
John also demonstrated pressure flaking. The arrowhead was
held against a piece of thick leather, in the palm of one hand while
the other held a bone tool used to apply pressure to the edge. This
caused small flakes of flint to break away. By this means he was able
to produce a fine arrowhead.
John demonstrated his skill by producing this exquisite
arrowhead.
Finally, John showed us a selection of the tools that he had
made earlier.
While we were in Norfolk we visited Grimes Graves where it is
possible to actually go down into one of the mine shafts that has been
re-opened for visitors. It involves donning a protective hard-hat and
climbing down a long ladder. At the bottom you can look into galleries
that fan out on all sides around the base of the shaft. It is well
worth a visit, if you are ever in the area and have a good head for
heights!
- Flint Mines in Neolithic Britain
written by Miles Russell
published by Tempus Publishing Ltd in 2000
ISBN 0-7524-1481-X
Hardback 160 pages
Illustrated with 51 line drawings, 46 black & white photographs
and
30 colour photographs
- Flint: The Versatile Stone
written by H J Mason
published by Providence Press in 1978
Reprinted in 1992
Paperback 48 pages
Illustrated with 8 line drawings and 27 black & white
photographs
- Masters of Flint
written by A J Forrest
published by Terence Dalton Ltd in 1983
ISBN 0 86138 015 0 (hardback)
ISBN 0 86138 016 9 (paperback)
Paperback 134 pages
Illustrated with 6 line drawings and 58 black & white
photographs
- Prehistoric Flint Mines
written by Robin Holgate
published by Shire Publications Ltd in 1991
ISBN 0 7478 0141 X
Paperback 56 pages
Illustrated with 15 line drawings and 13 black & white
photographs
- The Neolithic Flint Mines of England
written by Martyn Barber, David Field and Peter Topping
published by English Heritage Publications in
1999
ISBN 1 873592 41 8
106 pages
15 black & white illustrations
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