Synopsis and ordering info

Courtesy of Knapperbob

STONE DAGGER PUBLICATIONS

OLD TOOLS—NEW EYES Allows you to:

Appreciate early toolmaking skills

Link appearance of an artifact to the way it was made

Understand and control fracture

Receive detailed instructions on how to make arrowheads, using primal tools

Learn how classic artifact types were made

View 200 carefully prepared illustrations

Acquire fresh ideas and novel viewpoints

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Cost is $13.95 (plus $0.60 tax for Colorado sales), add $3.00 for shipping and handling

7X10 inch format, 160 pages paperback

Glossary and index included

ISBN 0-9668701-0-7

WINNER OF THE COLORADO INDEPENDENT PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION 1999 GOLD AWARD FOR BOOKS IN THE HOW-TO CATEGORY

Dr. James Dixon, Denver Museum of Nature and Science archaeologist says "Old Tools—New Eyes is the best book of its type I have had the pleasure to read. Bob Patten is one of North America's greatest flintknappers, and Old Tools—New Eyes shares his extensive knowledge in a concise, yet comprehensive, overview of flintknapping. He clearly explains the principles and concepts required to make stone tools, shares new ideas, explains complex processes, and even incorporates ethics in this great little book. Old Tools—New Eyes is well written and illustrated, and essential reading for anyone interested in stone tools and archaeology."

Charles Spear, ex-editor Flintknapper's Exchange says "Once in a while, we see something come together and have to remark 'well done!' Well this one of those times and I must say from the standpoint of design, use of illustrations, verbal information, photos, etc, it all comes together in a book which will go among my choice selections on flintknapping."

A brief history of flintknapping shows how flintknapping once fit into ancient life. An attempt is made to contrast the difference between primal and modern viewpoints. By the way, stone edges can be sharp--safety precautions are important.

A short course in detective work helps in finding suitable stone, and it is not always flint. Many common types of knappable stone are described. Simple tests reveal the structure, strength, and elasticity of a stone.

You can choose from a wide variety of tools to make an arrowhead. Which materials make the best tools depends on what the knapper is comfortable with. Illustrations show what the tools look like and how they are used.

We are more used to breaking things inadvertently than under control. By exploring many ways that energy can be applied and used, we can approach what early flintworkers understood naturally.

Predicting where fracture will occur depends on balancing forces acting on the flake as it develops. By combining forces judiciously, the knapper can make the fracture travel where he wants. For the archaeologist, the results reveal what the knapper did.

Using a hammer to pound flakes off is aptly called percussion. This book provides directions on just where and how to hit for maximum advantage. Many helpful hints gleaned from years of experience make ideal flakes easy and dependable.

Subtle refinements by pressure improve a stone tool. Most knappers strive to excel at special effects like patterned flaking and notches. Detailed illustrated discussions cover many ways of making pressure flakes.

Flakes make an edge, shape a tool, improve surface contour, thin a tool, or serve as a tool. To control a flake, you need know about its seperate episodes of initiation, propagation and termination. Attributes of flakes allow archaeologists to understand their original purpose.

Step-by-step replication of Clovis, Folsom, and Eden spearpoints shows how special techniques can mimic archaeological evidence. Cross-matching modern experiments with ancient remnants, gives reasonably certain cultural association from relatively obscure clues.

Deciphering archaeological remains requires a specialized jargon. The language of flintknapping aids reconstruction of past life--from description, to diagnosis, to drawing conclusions.

It is natural to want to put replications to use. Handles and hafts can be made of many kinds of wood or bone. Several options are provided for gluing and binding tools in place.

A "how-to" description of any craft is difficult without good illustrations. Many additional full-scale examples accompany text explaining what is of most interest about each specimen, including artifacts from around the world.

A good knapper leaves no stone unturned. Tip sheets provide quick references, and sidebar stories elaborate on how knapping reveals much about past life.