Attempt to Make a Biface

In this series of videos, I go through the process of attempting to make a biface with an antler billet and run into many problems along the way. I hope that this demonstration helps you appreciate the skills of flintknappers in the past. (Note that I was flintknapping in a park near where people were playing basketball.)

Part 1: Description of Nodule and Knapping Plans

I start with an obsidian nodule that has a square margin.

Part 2: Start Removing Cortex and the Square Margin

I use a sandstone abrader to prepare platforms. I likely created incipient cones of internal fractures in the nucleus. This will make it harder to predict how the nucleus will fracture.

Part 3: Biface Thinning and Step Fractures during the Attempt to Remove Cortex

I continue removing cortex with moderate success.

Part 4: Remove Cortex and Raise the Margin

I continue removing cortex and try to "raise the margin" (i.e., adjust the edge so that it is more centered than skewed toward one face of the nucleus). During this process, I face problems with accurately aiming the antler billet to remove the intended flakes.

Part 5: Remove Cortex and Attempt to Make the Piece Symmetrical

I continue removing cortex and try to shape the nucleus into the rough shape of a biface. I remove a troublesome step fracture. I manage to cut myself and pay a small blood sacrifice for my efforts.

Part 6: Removing Step Fractures, Creating Overshoot Flakes, and Attacking the Square Margin

I successfully remove some step fractures, but also create others. I make some unintended overshoot flakes, removing large portions of the nucleus.

Part 7: Thinning the Biface and Attacking the Square Margin

I attempt to create biface thinning flakes and remove the square margin. Unfortunately I also create overshoot flakes that make the nucleus rounder and narrower than I had intended.

Part 8: More Problems with Overshoot Flakes and Step Fractures

At this point, my difficulty with hitting the nucleus with the right amount of force is causing problems. When I hit it too hard, I create overshoot flakes. When I hit it too soft, I create step fractures. Neither is helpful when I want to make biface thinning flakes.

Part 9: Attempt to Thin the Biface

I try to fix the problems I created and thin the biface, but I have some problems with aiming the antler billet and create more incipient cones.

Part 10: Attempt to Thin the Biface Again

Aiming the antler billet precisely becomes more important and more difficult as the nucleus becomes smaller. These difficulties result in my creating more hinge and step fractures.

Part 11: Attempt to Thin the Biface, But Then Disaster Strikes...

In attempting to thin the biface, I create a bending break that splits the biface in two. Oops... At this point, I accept that this biface is not meant to be.