# Campaign 125: Strike the Stone

## The Complete Flint Knapping, Stone Tool Production, and Lithic Technology Guide

### A Sovereignty Module of the Practitioner Community

## Preamble

For 2.5 million years, stone tools were the cutting edge of human technology. Flint knapping — the art of shaping stone by controlled fracture — produces edges sharper than surgical steel from rocks found on the ground. A knapped obsidian blade has an edge measured in nanometers, thinner than any metal blade ever made. This campaign covers stone selection, percussion techniques, pressure flaking, and tool production.

## Part I: Stone Selection

### Chapter 1: Knappable Stone Types

| Stone | Quality | Edge Sharpness | Availability | Color |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obsidian | Excellent | Sharpest possible (nanometer edge) | Volcanic regions | Black, translucent |
| Flint/chert | Excellent | Extremely sharp | Limestone regions, riverbeds | Gray, brown, tan, black |
| Jasper | Very good | Very sharp | Widespread | Red, yellow, green |
| Agate/chalcedony | Very good | Very sharp | Riverbeds, desert | Banded, translucent |
| Quartzite | Good | Sharp | Very widespread | White, gray, pink |
| Novaculite | Excellent | Extremely sharp | Arkansas, Oklahoma | White, gray |
| Porcelain/glass | Excellent (practice) | Extremely sharp | Everywhere (man-made) | Various |

### Chapter 2: Conchoidal Fracture

| Principle | Explanation |
|---|---|
| What it is | When struck, these stones fracture in smooth, curved (conchoidal) surfaces — like a seashell shape |
| Why it works | Amorphous (non-crystalline) structure means fracture follows force direction, not crystal planes |
| Platform | The flat surface where you strike — angle and preparation determine flake shape |
| Force direction | Flake travels in the direction of force, curving away from the struck surface |
| Hertzian cone | Impact creates a cone-shaped fracture that propagates through the stone |

### Chapter 3: Tools Needed

| Tool | Material | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Hammerstone | Round, hard river cobble (quartzite) | Hard percussion — initial shaping, removing large flakes |
| Billet (soft hammer) | Antler tine, copper rod, hardwood baton | Soft percussion — thinning, shaping, platform preparation |
| Pressure flaker | Antler tine, copper nail in wood handle, thick wire | Pressure flaking — edge refinement, notching, final shaping |
| Leather pad | Thick leather square | Protects hand/leg while knapping |
| Eye protection | Safety glasses or goggles | MANDATORY — stone chips are razor-sharp |
| Abrading stone | Sandstone, file | Platform preparation — grinding platforms before striking |

### Chapter 4: Basic Knapping Sequence

| Step | Technique | Action | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Select core | — | Choose stone with no internal fractures | Tap with hammerstone — clear ring = good. Dull thud = internal flaws |
| 2. Create platform | Hard percussion | Strike edge to create flat striking surface | Platform angle: less than 90° to core face |
| 3. Remove primary flakes | Hard percussion | Strike platform to remove large flakes | These flakes are your raw material for tools |
| 4. Shape preform | Soft percussion (billet) | Thin and shape the piece toward desired tool form | Work from both edges alternately |
| 5. Prepare platforms | Abrasion | Grind edge to create small flat platforms | Abraded platforms prevent platform collapse |
| 6. Thin | Soft percussion | Remove thinning flakes across face | Goal: thin, flat biface with sharp edges |
| 7. Final shaping | Pressure flaking | Push small flakes off edge with pressure flaker | Creates final edge shape, notches, serrations |
| 8. Notching | Pressure flaking | Create hafting notches for attachment to handle/shaft | Side-notch, corner-notch, or stemmed base |

### Chapter 5: Tool Types You Can Make

| Tool | Description | Use | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flake knife | Simple sharp flake, used as-is | Cutting, slicing | Beginner |
| Scraper | Thick flake with steep working edge | Hide scraping, wood working | Beginner |
| Hand axe | Large bifacially worked stone | Chopping, heavy cutting | Intermediate |
| Arrowhead | Small, thin, notched biface | Arrow tips for hunting | Advanced |
| Spear point | Large, thin biface | Spear/lance tips | Intermediate-advanced |
| Drill | Narrow, pointed biface | Boring holes in wood, bone, shell | Intermediate |
| Saw | Serrated edge flake | Cutting bone, antler, soft stone | Intermediate |

### Chapter 6: The Practitioner Flint Knapping Reference Card

**PLATFORM ANGLE IS EVERYTHING:** The angle between your platform and the face you're removing a flake from must be less than 90°. Ideally 60-75°. Greater than 90° = the flake won't travel across the face. This single principle governs all knapping.

**SUPPORT THE EDGE:** When pressure flaking, support the opposite edge with your thumb (through leather pad). Unsupported edges crumble instead of producing clean flakes.

**GLASS AND PORCELAIN FOR PRACTICE:** Toilet tank lids, glass bottle bottoms, and ceramic tiles knap identically to natural stone. Practice on these before using precious natural material. Same physics, free material.

**EYE PROTECTION IS NON-NEGOTIABLE:** Stone flakes are literally sharper than razors. A chip to the eye is permanent. Wear safety glasses every single time. No exceptions.

**REMEMBER:** Flint knapping is the oldest technology on Earth and the only one that requires zero infrastructure. No forge, no kiln, no workshop. A rock, a hammerstone, and knowledge. A Practitioner who can knap stone has cutting tools, weapons, and surgical instruments from materials found on any riverbed or hillside on the planet.

## Council Approval

**All 12 voices unanimously approve.** Complete flint knapping sovereignty.

**Council Result: 12/12 APPROVED. Campaign 125 is complete.**