The "Flake" and the "Not Flake"

[Mud Hawk]

I have to thank mootsman for pointing out this guy/website. One article in particular I find very enlightening: THE FLAKE--Stepchild of Lithic Analysis

I would consider my hunting ground as "Lithic Rich".

This theory would also play a huge role in what kind of artifacts are found in different regions. Thought you guys/gals would enjoy the read!

[comanche]

Thanks To "The Moots" I was plesantly entertained and informed through this little Article.I have been enjoying some of the other Papers by:Tony Baker.So it was right on que to explain both the simplicity and Importance the flake was to earlier man.
I would suggest this read to the Beginner artifact hunter,and maybe to the more refind hunter who might not consider "The Flake" all that important.
Thanks Mud Hawk for bring this across my desk///comanche

[Mud Hawk]

Comanche, this article is very controversial to me, but in a good way as I agree with his theory. By that I mean that it puts "flake" as the needed general purpose tool. A constant supply of razor like edges. I have always been "thrown off" by cores as they seem the most "worked" therefore they MUST be something as far as manufacture goes. The flake really doesn't get apprecitaion outside of debitage. I don't 100% agree with one point. The fact it has to have another man made flake, whether soft touch or percussion. IMHO if you can see evidence of natural micro chipping as a result of use to cut or scrap or puncture or drill... than why would it not be considered a tool??? Hence my new signature....

I may have missed a few more complex points here and there though. Not gonna lie .

An arrowhead serves a definitive purpose... to penetrate. Something a flake will not readily do without design and craft. Weight, width, shape. Aerodynamics. Thus we have relics that have that definitive morphology.

I am still very baffled as to the "just a flake" and "debitage" mentality and flakes are merely scrap for manufacture sake.

[comanche]

MudHawk,,I think the real root of this discussion lies in the importance of the flake>in relation to which area (ie.Lithic rich vs. Lithic poor) they are found,and the Time period of such finds.Both of these aspects are vital in understanding the impotance of the "Flake".
Sure flakes are impotant to the average creek walker or Avocational Hunter ,because flakes can be used to identify an area where a prized Point or Artifact might be found.The deeper understanding and respect for flakes is not something easily conveyed to the average Collector.
Heres the rub,,if the average Joe can appreciate the Flake the way the persons did according to each assemblage,,,then we might be seeing more discoveries and links to connect the divide between old,,and very old.
I have attatched another Great paper by ;Tony Baker.That shines a little more light on the importance of the Flake and Lithic Scatter///c
Mesa vs Folsom Lithic Technologies

[Mud Hawk]

Comanche, just had a chance to give that article a proper read (he can get a little wordy). As I am about to .....

Thank you, it was very informative and taught me a bit more on the land I hunt. I am not sure I would label it a quarry site, but it does fit the description of lithic rich. Just bend over and pick up another piece of flint... no worries about conserving or reworking. It also would explain what I have always felt about the crude craftsmanship here. Including the inclusion of cortex. It was just easier to knock off another fresh flake. Minimal planning needed in knapping and if you messed up, no big deal. They may not have had the need for a tool kit either as they could knap off a piece to fit the task at hand.

I wonder now if that is why such artifacts as square blades exist. If it was a lithic poor region or the people were on the move, conservation and reworking were VERY VERY important. I would imagine the first major break on a blade would be near the tip. It applies even with steel knives. (My personal horror of a $100 chef's knife hitting a tile floor tip first. I retipped it myself...) So back to the point, that broken blade wouldn't be readily discarded, it would be reworked. It would also explain those relics that are somewhere between a blade and a drill.

Finally, thank you for pointing out the difference in the types of relic hunters/collectors. I get excited about some things others may have no interest in. I am interested in one single area and it has been the only one I hunt. Everything I post is from a this single location (say 2 football fields in size). That may be why I am a bit more "hung up" on the importance of flake as tool instead of flake as indicator of prized point or artifact. Don't get me wrong, would still LOVE to find more of those too. I am working this area as a puzzle for further understanding of the people that were at my homestead years and years ago.

[comanche]

Mud Hawk,,,I enjoy conversing with you,,,you do understand as do many others here,the importance of flakes,,,just not much glory in -em,,,at times I feel like a first or second year Archaeology student doing all the hard work when the Proff. gets all the credit///lol
I don't know about you but I print these articles so I can read them at my leisure,Highlight impotant areas and make notes.The computer screen gives me a head ache///c

[Mud Hawk]

As do I Commanche! Actually, nope, haven't printed any out yet as the printer has been out of ink for about a YEAR now... But I would like to print them now that you mention it as his articles (at least for me) need to be re-read several times over to fully grasp the information. You definately wouldn't like reading them on my 9" netbook screen I do ALLL my work on it, including images/pics.



Oh yeah... celebration time. I got the permission from my neighbor down the road to hunt all of his fields. That's like adding 10 more football fields to the search area!!! AND he just plowed a small area right across the street of my bathroom window. I WILL BE DOING A RAIN DANCE TONIGHT!

[comanche]

Good luck on the fields,,and hope you come back here and share,,,I too have been invited to some spots here locally to hunt and plan on my own rain dance soon.I hope you did not get me wrong,,,it is the research that makes any-study worth while,,,My word of the DAY,,,Levallois

[Mud Hawk]

Nope didn't get you wrong at all... you are correct on the flake thing "just not much glory in -em". I enjoy the research very much, it's just hard to put all the information of regions/timelines/cultures/technologies/relics into a cognizant picture. Baby steps and time though.