THE PLATFORM
-a publication of the Minnesota Knappers Guild-
THE PLATFORM
-a publication of the Minnesota Knappers Guild-
Editor: Gene Altiere
4329 Peabody Ln.
Duluth, MN 55804
The following
letter was received from MKG member Hugo Nami of Argentina. Parts of the
letter were edited slightly but Hugo does extremely well with English as his second
language. Thought you would all enjoy his comments. - Ed.
OPEN LETTER TO FLINTKNAPPERS
from Hugo G. Nami
This letter is for flintknappers
because I feel a moral
obligation to write something for those of them that were in touch with me during
my stay in the United States. During my visit there, I found real friends
both archaeologist like myself and non-archaeologist. Some of them were people
with whom I had been corresponding for a good number of years. Others, I had
never contacted before. After three months in the United States, I returned
to my country with new perceptions, ideas and feelings.
My first flintknapping
visits were in Maine with
Dr. Robson Bonnichsen, his family and the staff of the Center for the Study of
the First Americans (Dr. John Tomenchuck, Louise Bennet, Patricia Leathers, Judith
Cooper and other nice people). For almost three months we met every Saturday
morning. Occasionally, Dr. Tomenchuck and D. Douglas were our knapping company.
In these meetings, Bonnichsen showed his skill in bifacial reduction and
parallel transversal retouch, revealing his "ancestral" relationship
with D. Crabtree.
Another
of my visits was with Dr. Dennis Stanford, at the Smithsonian Institution.
We were able to discuss different aspects of paleo-indian lithic technology and
experimental archaeology. I was also able to see many paleo-indian artifacts
of both archaeological origin and also replicas made by different flintknappers
such as: Bradley, Callahan, McCormick, Silsby, Sollberger and by Stanford himself.
It
had long been a dream of mine to meet experimental archaeologist
and master flintknapper, Dr.
Erret Callahan. We had been corresponding for almost ten years but we could not
meet until my last year's visit. I spent four days at his home, "Cliffside",
which is in Lynchburg. There I met his wife Linda, his parents and,
on Thanksgiving Day, all his family. I especially remember Linda and Dr. Callahan's
parents for their hospitality during those days. While I was at Cliffside,
Dr Callahan placed his excellent library at my disposal, we discussed different
aspects of flintknapping and
experimental archaeology and I studied his collection of artifacts made by contemporary
flintknappers. In our flintknapping meetings, Dr. Callahan taught
me many new techniques and technologies.
The same warm welcome occurred
with J.B. Sollberger during a week I spent with him in Dallas. During this time,
Solly was very kind. He showed me all his collection, that consisted of many
master-pieces, products of his work, and also many of his skills. During our
meetings we discussed different
subjects related to flintknapping and lithic technology. We concentrated on
the Folsom technology as well as other fluted point technologies (Cumberland, Clovis).
He also made many different types of Texas projectile points. There I
also met David Hartig, who made an interesting stone paper weight.
My final
destination was Terry Frederick's house, in San Luis Obispo, California where
I met his very nice wife, Lorry and all his family. There in California, our
meetings were also on archaeology
and flintknapping but we spent a lot of time visiting different archaeological
sites in San Luis Obispo Co. too. I was able to see different collections
of Chumach archaeological artifacts. A memorable experience was my meeting with
Joe Dabill, a specialist in survival techniques who lives in Tempelton. In
one of the sessions with Joe, I was able to see his skill in manufacturing arrow
points, arrows, making fire and cordage and other primitive skills. We also
went to look for raw materials
in his favorite quarry, the San Antonio Lake. In other flintknapping meetings
with Terry, we made some artifacts using Chumach knives and projectile points
as our models. At his house, I also examined projectile points made by different
contemporary flintknappers.
In a very nice act, different flintknappers
I had never been in touch with before, sent me some of their excellent projectile
points and samples of raw materials. These will be very useful for my research
in lithic technology and
I want to say thank you to those flintknappers: Dale Cross, Eugene Gryba, Ivan
Imel and John Wellman.
The observations made during this trip will be included
in different articles I may publish describing my experiences with the
different knappers. Nevertheless, through this note, I want to thank everybody
for their hospitality, cordiality and help. I will never forget these extraordinary
experiences that are a landmark in my personal and professional life. Thank
you for everything and I hope
to see you soon.
We received the following in response to our
request for articles on native Minnesota knapping materials. The article is
longer than our normal pieces but because it is so informative we will present
it in its entirety through the next few issues. You will note that Dr. Romano
confined his remarks to Northern Minnesota. I would like to hear "the rest
of the story" so someone should start working on Southern Lithics - Ed.
NORTHERN
LITHICS - PART
I
by Anthony Romano
Every region has a representative assortment
of lithic (rock) materials utilized by ancient flintknappers. This assortment,
scant or extensive, is determined mainly by local natural occurrences (quarry
sites or rocks deposited by glacial activity: "glacial till") or by trading.
The
term "Northern Lithics" is used by regional professional
and amateur archaeologists as well as flint-knappers to describe siliceous
(high silica content) knappable
rocks worked by aboriginal groups in southern Ontario and northern and central
Minnesota. These rock types include: Knife Lake Siltstone, Kakebeca Chert,
Taconite Jasper and Gunflint Silica. In this grouping we must also mention Jaspilite,
Recrystallized Rhyolite and Hudson's Bay Lowland Chert.
"Knife
Lake Siltstone"
According to some sources, in very early Minnesota
geologic time (around 2.7 billion years ago) the Early Precambrian Laurentian
volcanic mountains were formed
and then later eroded away. Certain minute particles, of volcanic origin, created
by this erosion break-down were sorted out, squeezed and silica-cemented together
(metamorphosed) to form Knife Lake Siltstone which is one rock type of the
Knife Lake Group. It gets its name because it occurs at Knife Lake (originally
"Mookomaan Zaaga'igan" in Ojibwe) along the Minnesota-Ontario border.
The term "siltstone" means the rock's particle size must be in the
"silt" range. The
ranges referred to are: gravel = over 2mm; sand = 1/16 to 2mm; silt = 1/256 to
1/16mm and clay = less than 1/256mm. The corresponding rock types composed of
these particles would be conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone (mudstone) and shale.
Siltstone is a dark gray to black, slate-like (but no cleavage) material.
Some specimens appear to have more silica than others.
A peculiar greenish,
glossy type occurs frequently in artifact collections from the Reservoir
Lakes area north of Duluth. Such
variation has prompted other names such as "Lake of the Woods Chert"
and "Knife Lake Slate". Various gradations of this material are
far from being completely understood.
Although many interested persons have
voiced their opinion in identifying the method of formation of Knife Lake material,
one very logical explanation has not been pursued as far as I know. With
the highly active volcanic (molten rock) intrusion of local sedimentary rock
(slate etc.) during the formative
period of the Knife Lake Group, the "country rock" (preexisting
local rock, such as slate and mudstone) was "cooked" by the extremely
hot invading igneous (molten) rock. This is referred to as "contact metamorphism"
(changing one rock type to another by heating and recrystallizing).
One resultant new rock type is called a "hornfels". Most hornfels
exhibited by geologists in Minnesota are not suitable for flintknapping, but
they have been used and described
extensively in the East (Massachusetts Hill Quarry Site). These described
Eastern hornfels are remarkably similar to Knife Lake Siltstone as far as texture,
color, patina (weathering color change), flow-banding, knappability, iron pyrite
inclusions and most importantly the similar, if not exact, geology.
It
is probable that other various geologic "hot spots" occurring in
slatey formations also created rocks like those found at Knife Lake. For instance,
diabase (basalt-like) volcanic
intrusions are reported in the Thompson Slate near Cloquet and Carlton, Minnesota.
While knappable material is as yet to be found in the area, it is interesting
to note that, one portage near Cloquet on the St. Louis river was called
"Knife Portage" because the sharp, splintered stone cut the voyagers
moccasins. Even prior to the arrival of white explorers, the Ojibwe place-name
for Cloquet was "Mook-a-miin" or "Knife". Could this
have been an identifying name for
a stone source for making knives? Unfortunately, artifacts made of these comparable
materials are all lumped together and designated "Knife Lake"
even though all the lithic sources and locations are probably unknown.
One
thing is for sure: the "run-of-the-mill" material is a heart breaker
to work (as the Editor discovered at last year's knap-in). My heat treating
(500 degrees for 6 hrs) does not improve it and I am amazed at how expertly
the Paleo-Archaic people managed
it. It is found in sites over a wide spread area in Minnesota. I have personally
seen it represented: as a material of choice at a site on Shagwa Lake near
Ely, MN; at Island Lake, north of Duluth; at the Itasca Bison Kill Site, Itasca
Park; at Pipestone Lake, Ontario; as a Clovis preform from my garden at Pine
City and as a multifluted Clovis point found 1/2 mile from my backyard. Superior
National Forest Archaeol-ogist and MKG member, Gordon Peters, has reported a
"basally thinned by the fluting
process" Paleo point (Holcombe ?) made of this material which was found
at East Bearskin Lake in Northeastern Minnesota. Most of these specimens
exhibit hefty percussion, little retouch, inherent bedding plane "riffles",
hinge fractures (AMEN! - Ed.) and "healed" fracture lines. It
does not yield well to pressure flaking. Jon Nelson, MKG member and one of our
good knapping friends from Thunder Bay, Ontario, has extensively studied the
formation and quarrying at Knife
Lake and has shared rock samples from these sites. He reminded us that the "tooth
test" (rubbing the stone on an incisal edge) causes a "gritty"
feeling with siltstone, but not with shale (smaller particles).
(LOOK FOR "NORTHERN LITHICS - PART II" IN THE NEXT ISSUE)
NEW
MEMBERS
New knapping friends keep writing in to the MKG and we
are very happy to have them join with us. We always try to mention the names
and addresses of new members in
this column so that you will all be able to keep in contact with one another.
Since the last newsletter went out, we have several new members including Gary
Neuenschwander, P.O. Box 115, Sparta, MO 65753. (Gary, do you know that there
is a Bob Neuenschwander, taxidermist - state legislator from International Falls,
MN.? Relative by any chance? Bob has a very nice gift and taxidermy shop
a block from the U.S./Canadian border crossing. If you do any knapping for sale,
you may want to contact him
as a possible outlet. The name alone would get his attention! - Ed.) Another
new member is Jim Hopper, 16010 S.E. Mill ST., Portland, OR 97233, (503) 760-5772.
(Jim is a commercial knapper. His company sent us a single page color brochure
showing the type of work he has for sale. The knapping appears extremely
skillful with oblique and parallel flaking being the norm but incredible beauty
is found in the stone materials we Midwesterners seldom get to see such as
jaspers, agate, multiple varieties
of obsidian, petrified wood and opal. He had a price list attached to the
brochure and the costs seemed reasonable. If anyone is interested, it would be
worthwhile to drop him a line and ask for a brochure. Be sure to send a S.A.S.E.
- Ed.) Kenneth W. Smith, 3672 Bogota Dr., Westerville, OH 43081 has also
decided to join the MKG. (Ken, if by any chance your dentist is Jim Auggsberger
or Mike Anthony say hello for me. They both live in Westerville and they are
classmates of mine. - Ed.) Scott
Richert, 125 Long Rd. Apt #1, Newville, PA 17241 is a native Minnesotan who
studied anthropology and archaeology at the University of North Dakota and now
resides in PA. Scott has been a knapper for nine years and says he is looking
forward to hearing from home again. William H. Bischoff, 4026 S. Cherokee, Englewood,
CO. 80110 has also signed on as a new member. Bill says he's a "rank
amateur" looking for new ideas and methods. Welcome, Bill, the editor
always enjoys having someone
whose skill level makes him feel right at home. -Ed.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS
We
received a very nice letter from MKG member Wayne Allen advising
us of his address change. Wayne is an archaeology student who until recently
was studying at Mankato State here in MN. He is now studying at the U. of California
at Santa Barbara and will be doing his field work this summer in either
the Northwest Territories or Venezuela! He has been spending his spare time working
on replicating Chumash points.
His new address is 784 Laurel Walk, Apt. B, Goleta, CA 93117.
COPPER
CAP BILLET
by Jack Hutchinson
Being an amateur knapper
for approximately 1 1/2 years, I have used both antler and copper billets.
Good antlers are expensive and hard to find. Copper, however, is less expensive
but does not have the "feel" of antler. After trial and error, I now
use a copper cap billet that has low cost (about $1.50), variable weight to
suit the knapper and more of the
"feel" of antler than I could find in the pure copper billets.
I use a 1 1/2" diameter billet for primary reduction and a 1" tool
for finish work. A wood dowel or any piece of turned wood off and old chair or
stool will work fine. I cut mine 5 1/2" to 7" and round off one end
to fit the copper cap. Copper caps can be purchased at a plumbing supply source.
Put a large ball peen hammer in a vice with the round end up. Set
the copper cap on the hammer and
tap the top corner of cap while rotating until the cap forms a crown. Now take
the wooden handle and drill a hole 1/2" or larger to accommodate whatever
weight you would like. (for "Loading Billets the Easy Way, be sure to see
Larry Scheiber's article in the most recent issue of "CHIPS" - Ed.).
I prefer to drill the hole at least one half the length of the billet. Bird
shot is my choice for weight but you can fill the hole with molten lead. Coat
the inside of the copper cap with
a heavy coat of epoxy glue and place on the wood shaft. When the glue dries,
your copper knocker is complete.
After a period of time, your copper
cap will become deformed. Place the knocker in a vice and use a propane torch
to heat the cap to loosen the glue. The old cap can then be removed and replaced with a new one.
(A tip of the hat to Jack for sending in this article this article. We have received articles from other members and will be printing them in future issues - Ed.)