Wood Handle Obsidian Knife
Wood Handle Obsidian Knife
Through eons of time, man has made his tools from stone. From simple bone smashing hand held choppers (for acquiring bone marrow) to more elaborate fluted clovis spear and atlatl points to more modern arrowheads. Any type of stone was used that could be managed into a desirable size and shape and have a sharp edge. Jasper, agate, flint, and basalt are just a few of these materials.
The most prized of materials for pre-historic stone tool development was the volcanic glass known as obsidian. Obsidian from the Western United States has been found in the shape of pre-historic artifacts across much of the North American continent. A large portion of this obsidian came from volcanic areas in the Great Basin.
Flintknapper, Dale Duby reproduce the stone tools and weaponry of vast bygone eras using only the finest obsidian. Dale recreates these items by many of the same techniques used by pre-historic man. Grinding, abrading, percussion and pressure flaking are some of the techniques that Dale uses to produce these elegant obsidian knives.