Old Tools - New Eyes: A Primal Primer of Flintknapping [Paperback]

Bob Patten (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Stone Dagger Pubns (February 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966870107
• ISBN-13: 978-0966870107
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,518,278 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Talking of rocks, March 4, 2003

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Old Tools - New Eyes: A Primal Primer of Flintknapping (Paperback)

This book is a well written, but rather thin discussion of the methods and art flintknapping. Some of the author's observations, such as the problems of making sense of older illustrations and photographs of knappers making chipped stone tools are well taken.

The book falls short for a serious knapper or lithic technologist in several ways. First, the book is personal in tone. While this is not a problem normally, in this instance it relfects a highly subjective, personal approach and understanding of flint knapping. Second, there are references to sites the author has studied, but there are no citations for further reading about these places. There IS a brief bibliography that can help a budding knapper learn more. Third, there are limited discussion of alternatives for many technological decisions made by knappers, and little discussion of the actual degree of uncertainty we have regarding the techniques employed prehistorically in manufacturing a Folsom point for instance, or how such an artifact may have been used. Last, the illustrations are beautiful art, but there are far too few of them, and I at least prefer more detail.

The book does offer a very readable starting point for anyone interested in learning to work chipped stone. The brief bibliography will provide an entry into the relevant literature. There are also starting points for the internet and for acquiring casts of original artifacts and replicas.

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, January 3, 2001

By 

"[e-mail]" (Calgary, Alberta Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Old Tools - New Eyes: A Primal Primer of Flintknapping (Paperback)

This book is one of the best that I have read. While not as hands on (technical) as some, it goes into great depth in many areas of interest and takes an approach much different than other authors. Complete with many unique pictures, all in all, this book lacks nothing and is highly reccomended for anyones library collection. Travis....

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An essential part of a flintknapper's library, May 16, 2009

By 

J. Anderson (Eastern US) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Old Tools - New Eyes: A Primal Primer of Flintknapping (Paperback)

This is a complete and easy to read work about making and hafting stone tools. Not overly scientific or technical, it is a start to finish guide aimed at novice and experienced knapper alike.