14000 Years in the Ozarks - Arrowhead Collecting On The Web

ACOTW
Arrowhead Collecting On The Web
Arrowhead Collecting On The Web
TM Jasper blade core shows where long prismatic blades were
removed from the chunk of stone, with the blade scars extending
the full length of the core. The remaining core measures about
2” in diameter and about 5” long.
And Here Is An Ancient “Gemfield” Jasper Blade Core Found In
2008 By The Author In Nevada’s High Desert Gold Country.
These Artifacts Prove Knowledge & Use Of Gemfield Jasper.
The author
watched the
production of
these three
flint blades by
Greg Nunn, in
2008.
They measure
about 3-1/2”
to 4” long by
7/8” to 1-1/4”
wide, and
about 1/8” to
3/16” thick.
Check out Greg Nunn’s archaeological research in applied flint
knapping at his web site: www.GregNunnFlintworks.com
“Blade cores” are the remnant of a chunk of knapping
material, like jasper, flint, obsidian, etc., from which a
skilled knapper has removed a number of “blades”. The
blades are struck off of the central core from the end. The
end of the core is broken off across the roughly cylindrical
material to create an essentially flat surface for the
knapper to drive off the blades.
The knapper uses either “direct percussion” with a
hammer stone or antler billet, or else he uses “indirect
percussion” with an intermediate “punch” like an antler
tine. The punch is placed against the flat end of the core
at the correct angle and struck with a heavy stone or
wooden hammer to drive off the blade.
Volume II, Number 5 15
May 2010