On July 22, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., “Flintknapping II, Percussion”, with Mike McGrath will take place at the Bement Billings Farmstead in Newark Valley.
In the early morning hours, the master flintknapper awoke to the familiar smell of wispy smoke trailing from fires that burned all night in their summer shelters. This was the day that felt right to dig up several colorful pieces of flint he’d traded many of his prized finished blades for from men of his people who’d come from the west.
The men spoke of a ridge of colorful flint that had all the colors one could imagine and so much of it they didn’t bother with only working the large pieces. His own native flints were mottled grey and white, but the blades he dug up this morning were white, blue, green and red.
The master quietly dug each rough blade from his secret hiding place under his bedding where they were safe and stayed moist with the wet earth covering them. Each was stacked neatly on top of the other as his father had taught him to do.
The master slipped out of his bark and wood shelter to his favorite place to craft his blades. He waited for the early morning sunrise and began. As he lifted his antler billet to strike the first blade, he heard a hawk’s cry far in the distance. When the antler billet struck the colorful blade a loud “CRACK” could be heard echoing down the valley until thick woods swallowed up the sound. The flake fell to the ground as the master knapper smiled.
This indeed was the best flint he had ever had the opportunity to work and this indeed would be a day of greatness as the rough blade began to take form into a large knife. This would become the master’s own prized possession.
He’d waited a lifetime to create this blade, and no amount of wealth offered for trade would pry it from his hands. Appearing distracted by the beautiful stone, the master pretended not to see his young apprentice hiding nearby taking in every stroke of the antler billet.
The young apprentice had gotten up even earlier than the master hoping to see him work the beautiful blades that journeyed from the far away ridge of flint, and also hoping to pick through his flakes and save some of them to work himself. So went the morning and by late morning, the master arose carrying seven fine and colorful blades.
Like our young apprentice, come to watch and learn how to take large pieces of flint and make larger blades suitable for making knives. Flintknapper and teacher Michael McGrath will give you an opportunity to take those first flakes from a large piece of flint and start your journey in percussion flaking.
Participants will make large stone tools. The cost is $65 for Newark Valley Historical Society members and $70 for non-members. Scholarships are available.
Register by calling Leslie at (607) 642-5412 by July 5. For more information, visit nvhistory.org.
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