Old Tools - New Eyes: A Primal Primer of Flintknapping

Rating:
Summary: Talking of rocks
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Talking of rocks
Review: 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....

Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: 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....