The Invisible Signature of the Folsom Point Knapper

[Mojave]

First update in almost a year on Tony's site…

“The Invisible Signature of the Folsom Point Knapper”

From http://www.ele.net/ …

http://www.ele.net/signature/folsomknapper.htm

[SmokyHill]

I read of this idea a number of years ago whereas Folsom points were made by knapping specialists within the band and have always had trouble with the concept. I guess for me it just doesn’t seem logical for a band of hunters to rely on specific individuals to produce the weapons needed to keep a band fed.

[henry english]

i really don't have a problem with a master knapper being in command of the points being produced , just look at the later cultures that produced millions of points that are called field grade , imo smoky hill the paleo hunters in their small bands relied on the master knappers to produce the awesome artifacts we find a get to see today ,

jmho. henry

[uniface]

Tony is a neat, and highly knowledgeable, guy. But he gets to pursuing points that are so arcane in such depth and complexity that after three or four pages I just give up trying to follow his line of reasoning through where he's taking it.

[SmokyHill]

Originally Posted by henry english

i really don't have a problem with a master knapper being in command of the points being produced
jmho. henry

I have no doubt there were knappers who excelled in their work and made the beautiful pieces we are finding in modern times. The article says: “a few craftsmen: people who made all the points for the band” ...whether they were finely made or not.

I am just saying if your master knapper has a mishap who is going to make the weapons necessary to hunt with. These people were the ultimate survivalists; I would think most young men would be trained as soon as possible in all survival skills, including knapping skills so they could survive on their own if necessary.

SH

[knife river]

There's such a thing as thinking too much. While I feel that there were undoubtedly individuals who excelled at making Folsom points, the entire culture was immersed in flintknapping. Their life revolved around hunting/gathering: knapping was a central aspect of those activities (and perhaps other activities as well). I suspect that everyone knew how to knap a little, including women and children, just as we all know how to use knives, forks, can openers, etc. I have little doubt that every adult male was proficient at making a Folsom point, but some were more proficient and artful than others. There may have been specialization in the sense that while hunters may have preferred to carry an artfully made weapon, they were all capable of making a functional point.

[FIRSTVIEW]

Thanks
Part of it reads like Chinese math but Extremely interesting !

[mootsman]

I have no problems with the concept of the master knapper for a couple of reasons. First I suspect we fall into a trap of viewing these cultures through a "lithics lens." This in turn causes us to pay less attention to the importance of wood, leather, bone, etc., to the culture (obviously these materials are rarely preserved and that further increases the lithic focus). Secondly and FWIW, I assume that skill in knapping was likely normally distributed. Meaning there were masters, there were the "all thumbs" types, and a lot in the middle. OK, I'm prolly full of it.......

[Mojave]

Originally Posted by knife river

I suspect that everyone knew how to knap a little, including women and children, just as we all know how to use knives, forks, can openers, etc.

In my life I have used thousands of knives, forks, can openers, etc. I never MADE one though. That was kind of the point…
Making and using are functionally different activities.

Oh, and thinking too little is worse than thinking too much.

[DesertWalker]

I really enjoy Tony's articles. Seems like a genuine person without the academian air.