February Flintknapping Workshops Registration

The rock came in for the percussion workshop - 90 pounds of Mahogany Obsidian, Black Obsidian, and English Flint. I spent a couple hours yesterday cracking it into softball sized cores and sorting it into 5 pound groups. This is the stone that we'll be using in the Flintknapping Workshop - Percussion on February 11th, 2010. This should be a fun workshop for first time knappers where you get to make the really big flakes and learn how to make bifaces from a core.

One week prior to that I'll be leading a Beer Bottle to Arrowhead workshop on February 4th, 2010. This is also a beginner class where participants will learn to knap their first arrowhead from a beer bottle bottom using a pressure flaker. Registration for each workshop is separate. Both classes will be held in QC-2013, Queen's College on the Memorial University of Newfoundland campus, St. John's. To register, you can either RSVP through Facebook, or by sending me an e-mail.

Beer Bottle to Arrowhead

Introductory Flintknapping Workshop - Pressure Flaking

Date:	Thursday, 04 February 2010
Time:	18:00 - 21:00
Location:	QC-2013, Queens College, Memorial University of Newfoundland
Street:	Prince Phillip Dr.
Town/City:	St. John's, NL

Learn to flintknap. This is an introductory workshop that teaches the basics of flintknapping, by chipping an arrowhead out of a beer bottle bottom. No previous knapping experience is necessary.

Participants receive a basic flintknapping kit including a pressure flaker, leather palm pad and instruction booklet. At the end of the evening this kit and whatever you make in the workshop are yours to keep. There will be obsidian available if you'd like to try a different material after you finish your beer bottle point. Bandaids and safety glasses provided.

If you already own one of Elfshot's "Beer Bottle to Arrowhead" flintknapping kit and don't need to have one supplied at the workshop, bring your kit along and save $20 on the cost of the workshop.

Please RSVP ahead of time to guarantee a space. Maximum 15 participants. RSVP on facebook or by e-mail.

Workshop and Materials: $40 tax inc. ($20 if you already have a Beer Bottle to Arrowhead Kit)
Ages: 12 and upClass size:
6 to 15 people
Instructor: Tim Rast

Flintknapping Workshop - Percussion

Introduction to Hard and Soft Hammer Percussion

Date:	Thursday, 11 February 2010
Time:	18:00 - 21:00
Location:	QC-2013, Queen's College, Memorial University of Newfoundland
Street:	Prince Phillip Dr.
Town/City:	St. John's, NL

This is a beginner class in flintknapping that teaches the basics of knapping with antler soft hammers and stone hard hammers. Participants will learn the fundamentals of creating flakes, bifaces, and unifaces from a core of stone. No prior experience is necessary.

Flintknapping tools, goggles and bandaids will be supplied for use during the workshop. Each participant will receive 5 pounds of rock and a rubbermaid container that are theirs to keep.

We'll be using Black Obsidian, Mahogany Obsidian and English Flint in the workshop.

You'll want to wear jeans and close toed shoes for the workshop. Leather work gloves are optional, but recommended.

I have enough stone for 15 people. Please RSVP early to guarantee your spot. RSVP through Facebook or by e-mail.

Cost: $40/person tax inc.
Age: 12 and upClass size:
6-15 people
Instructor: Tim Rast

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Photo Credits:
1,2,4 Tim Rast
3,5 Eric Walsh
6 Lori White

Photo Captions:
First: Unpacking the boxes of black obsidian, mahogany obsidian and English Flint
Second: a typical core of mahogany obsidian that we'll use in the percussion workshop, 5 pound boxes of rock in the background
Third: a beer bottle arrowhead
Fourth: Flintknapping Kit
Fifth: A hand-axe reproduction made from flint using only hard and soft hammers
Sixth: striking a flake from a core using a hammerstone