Flintknapping is the ancient art of tool making. It was used first by Prehistoric Indians more than 10,000 years ago. Using tools such as deer and moose antler, these native people would create a spearpoint, knife or arrowhead from stone such as flint or obsidian.
Stone with a high silica content is able to be knapped in this fashion. Prehistoric Indians found this stone in several places across the United States. One such major source of this material was Flint Ridge in Licking County, Ohio. Today Flint Ridge is a state park.
As historical Native American Indians aquired more traditional weapons such as guns and metal arrowheads, this practice became a lost part of Native culture. Today when you walk a field and find an arrowhead or spearpoint, you are holding a piece of ancient history in your hand.
