Making arrowheads, blades, and other stone tools was once a survival skill and is still a craft practiced by thousands of flintknappers around the world. In the United States, knappers gather at regional "knap-ins" to socialize, exchange ideas and material, buy and sell both equipment and knapped art, and make stone tools in the company of others. In between these gatherings, the knapping community stays connected through newsletters and the Internet. In this book, avid knapper and professional anthropologist John Whittaker offers an insider's view of the knapping community. He explores why stone tools attract modern people and what making them means to those who pursue this art. He describes how new members are incorporated into the knapping community, how novices learn the techniques of knapping and find their roles within the group, how the community is structured, and how ethics, rules, and beliefs about knapping are developed and transmitted. He also explains how the practice of knapping relates to professional archaeology, the trade in modern replicas of stone tools, and the forgery of artifacts. Whittaker's book thus documents a fascinating subculture of American life and introduces the wider public to an ancient and still rewarding craft. (200509)
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Whittaker's American Flintknappers will be an important resource for students of modern replication studies. This publication not only presents information on modern non-academic flintknappers, it also addresses issues of interest to anyone studying folk technologies in general. (James C. Woods, College of Southern Idaho The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute )
About the Author
JOHN C. WHITTAKER is Professor of Anthropology at Grinnell College in Iowa.
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
American Flintknappers,
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This review is from: American Flintknappers: Stone Age Art in the Age of Computers (Paperback)
John C. Whittaker never fails to capture the essence of scientifically studying modern day flint-knapping. This new book is a progression from his 1994 work on how to make stone tools. It is a leap forward in a fascinating area of archaeology and anthropology, especially when there is a growing concern for the depletion of silicate resources. Dr. Whittaker is a pure scientist who is always thinking of how stone tools can be scientifically studied, and is always innovative in his research approach, rendering his work successful and resourceful. It is also nice to see that Dr. Michael Stafford is well represented, a master flint-knapper whom I`ve had an opportunity to study under. Dr. Whittaker also has in his new book, raw demographic data from sociological surveys, continuing a tradition that he and Dr. Stafford started in 1998 with their research on Fakes. This sociological approach reveals a great deal of important data for student researchers, and should not be overlooked when writing on the subject of stone tools. This book has wonderful color pages in its' center and shows an amazing variety of raw materials commonly used by knappers. John C. Whittaker is fast becoming the leading professor on this subject, and deserves all the attention he receives. Great work John!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
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This review is from: American Flintknappers: Stone Age Art in the Age of Computers (Paperback)
Very interesting view of the "inside" of the knapping circles..including knap-in's ...lots of great color photographs of beautifully knapped points in exotic materials, as well as close reproductions of American Indian points. Lots of photos of well known knappers, interesting statistics on knapping. Lots of really neat stuff if you are interested in knapping at all, you should buy this one.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
American Flintknappers is an American classic.,
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This review is from: American Flintknappers: Stone Age Art in the Age of Computers (Hardcover)
American Flintknappers is an American classic. This book is an amazing journey through the strange subculture of American Flintknappers. From an
anthropologists set of eyes. A journey through the past, of men who followed the way of the stone. From Ishi to flake over grinding, the whole experience is here and when you read it you will be there too. Ray Harwood, Western Lithics.
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