Idle youth caught knapping.

It has always been the opinion of many within the Learned Society that the young are so busy looking forward, they very rarely take the time to look to the past. To that end we founded a youth movement within the Ramblers called the Ragged Society of idle and feckless loafers. Suffice to say, membership is at present small with the notable exception of young Lady Golden Hair - ward to me, Mr Many Coats after his own parents expired during a freak accident involving carving the Christmas bird. It is of course only natural that at the festive season of the year the young Golden Hair feels their loss most keenly and in an effort to cheer the lad up last Yule and also to ween him off his addiction to touching himself down there, I Many Coats took the scamp for a days flint knapping with the master knapper, John Lord. Not only a great craftsman, but also very friendly with a most wonderful quality - Namely his sly smile and habit of laughing to himself in a knowing manner!

Young Golden Hair using a 'Soft Hammer' (Deer antler)


Young Golden Hair crafting his first flint hand axe

Half way through the day we were treated to a fine luncheon of baked potato, with beans, pickles, grated cheese and an assortment of cold meats, with copious amounts of tea. So much so that we were forced to leave our own flask tea and egg and tomato sandwiches until the drive home. That said we still tucked into the sausage, egg and chips so thoughtfully waiting for us upon our return home. Not wanting to hurt Mrs Many Coat's feelings (She has only just got over the notion that she is a tree) we scoffed the lot, whilst regaling her with stories of bulbs of percussion, indirect percussion, intrusive pressure, flaking angles, step fractures and blade cores.

Some of Golden Hair's work:
A barbed arrow head, hand axe and simple knife struck from a flint core

Thanks to John and his wife Val for a wonderful day out that this Ragged Rambler would recommend to all. To find out more visit their website... http://www.flintknapping.co.uk/

I also heartily recommend John's book:
The Nature and Subsequent Uses of Flint Vol.1, The Basics of Lithic Technology

+Many Coats+