There are various methods to creating art. Sometimes the art, the finished product, serves a purpose. I personally connect more to art that is functional or useful. It’s easier to comprehend the reasons for creating it, and therefore helps me appreciate it more. Flint knapping is one of those methods.

According to FlintKnappingTools.com:

Flintknapping is the process of chipping away material from high silica stones like “flint” in a carefully controlled manner with special tools to produce sharp projectile points or tools. Only the purest silica based stones will provide fracture predictability required to achieve the finest works.

For instance, this is an arrowhead made of obsidian; it is a classic example of a finished tool created with the flint knapping method.

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to interview a “flint knapper!” His name is Mordechai and he possesses a set of outdoor skills having to do with nature. Among these skills is flint knapping:

Me: Why do you consider this an art?

Mordechai: Well, before it was an art, it was used for survival purposes by our ancestors. As a person who “flint knaps,” I feel a special connection to them. It is an art because you must master the action of hitting the rock with the correct amount of force and at the correct angle; precision is key. The finished product is a functional tool that is also very beautiful and unique. It’s a kind of modernization of an ancient necessity that became an art form over the years.

   Me: How long does it take, on average, to create a tool?

   Mordechai: First of all, it depends on the tool. A knife can take up to six hours, an arrowhead would probably take less. The bigger the object, the longer it takes.

   Me: What would you say is the hardest part?

   Mordechai: In contrast to some other art, making a mistake here is completely fatal. Sometimes you can work on an object for five hours and almost be done. Then, with one strike that is slightly off, the entire piece breaks and is unusable. All your time and effort goes to waste. It’s quite a humbling experience.

 Me: Wow. That requires a lot of patience. Well, thank you for your time and good luck with your work!

 Today, flint knapping is mastered by a very few. A great deal of effort and many hours are put into creating each and every rare object. These dedicated few create the objects for the purpose of art, while truly connecting to it’s roots. It’s unique, pure, unrefined, and even instinctive in a way.