Modern Lithic Art

Flintknappers today take on the challenge of the craft as as a research tool, a hobby, a means of making money, or for a combination of these reasons.

Flintknapping researchers learn and apply their skills as a method for understanding the long prehistory of tool-making. Most researchers are archaeologists, although non-academic flintknappers also contribute significantly to knowledge of traditional stoneworking techniques and methods. Serious researchers strive to replicate the steps used to make ancient stone tool types, not just the final form.

Flintknapping hobbyists engage in the craft for many reasons, but largely for the personal satisfaction of mastering a challenging technical activity and creating aesthetically-pleasing objects. Some hobbyists use traditional flintknapping tools to mimic tools like those from prehistory, while other hobbyists use modern metal flintknapping and lapidary tools to make fantasy objects with no ancient analogues. Most hobbyists fall in the middle of this spectrum and use metal tools to make familiar archaeological types from their home region. Hobbyist flintknappers are concentrated in North America and Europe, but the hobby is spreading through social media and YouTube ‘how to’ videos.

Hobbyist flintknappers have created a market for their tools, with the most skilled and well-known flintknappers earning hundreds or even thousands of dollars for their work. A rare few of these flintknappers have turned professional and are able to make a living through this trade.

Indigenous peoples, particularly in Mexico and India, have modified their traditional ways of flaking stone to supply market stalls in Western countries (as well as internet sites) with North American-style ‘arrowheads’ as jewellery and keepsakes. Most arrowheads you see at markets and online are purchased by wholesalers in large lots, or even by weight, from one of these Indigenous sources.

The dark side of the craft are those flintknappers that make stone tools and defraud collectors by selling them as ancient artefacts—an activity that first arose by the 1860s and continues today. Internet sites like eBay and Etsy have led to a resurgence in this activity, and the commercial business of stone artefact authenticating has arisen in response.