Video Documentary: 1950's Yokut Arrow Maker from California

[AncientTech]

http://aifg.arizona.edu/film/indians-california-2

Arthur Barr was an early pioneer in educational films.  Some of his educational films were devoted to documenting Native American life.  The companion film includes people both singing, and speaking, in the traditional Yokuts language.  It was quite common for people living out west to have direct contact with Native Americans, who were still familiar with their own culture.   

Regarding the kneeling position, numerous historical photos, and written accounts, indicate that Native American knappers worked either while kneeling on pads of skins, or while sitting on their rear ends. 

"Arthur Barr produced two films in 1955 that documented the bygone world of California's Yokut Indians, Indians of California: Village Life (Barr), and Indians of California: Food (Barr). The films were made in cooperation with Kern County Museum's Frank Latta, who had written the seminal Handbook of Yokuts Indians. Two employees of the museum, Pete and Clara Barrios, acted in the films. Clara Barrios's great-grandmother, Josie Atwell, also acted in the Food film as the woman pounding and cleaning the acorn meal. She lived in a reservation near the town of Lemoore, and served as subject matter expert. For the films, a mock village was created along the Kern River, where houses were erected, tule boats built, baskets made, and songs, stories, dances, and religious rites were recreated.  The films are exacting documents, in terms of showing Yokuts crafts and practices.36 Special mention should also be made of made of two other “period” films produced by Arthur Barr: Mission Life (Barr, 1960) and Rancho Life (Barr, 1992, revised)."  (FILMS YOU SAW IN SCHOOL, Geoff Alexander, 2013)

Handbook of Yokuts Indians, (F.F. Latta, 1949)

University of California, Berkeley. Archaeological Research Facility, (1952)

"The remainder of the chipping was done by pressure and not by blows . The method by which this was done probably varied, but the principle was always the same . It is stated by one authority that the Indian squatted with his knees on either side of an upright stake which had been driven securely into the ground.  The work was rested on the top of this stake. The implement used in pressing off the small flake was generally the tip of a buck horn.  The flake which was being reduced by shaping was held in the left hand between the tips of the fingers and the base of the thumb with the edge toward the worker, the hand being protected by a piece of buckskin. The buck horn was held in the right hand. It was sometimes lashed to a stick, which extended up as far as the elbow and was held between the upper and lower arms, with the elbow bent almost double. "The side of the flake was placed upon the edge of the top of the stake, which extended several inches above the knees of the worker. The buck horn was placed across the opposite edge of the stake with the tip resting upon the edge of the flake where the chip was to be removed. The point where these two met was elevated approximately one half inch above the top of the stake . "By bearing down strongly on both buck horn and flake so that they could not slip on the stake and then raising their outer ends gradually, the worker could secure tremendous leverage, and bring great pressure to bear upon the edge of the flake. As the flake cut into the buck horn, and as both were lowered toward the top of the stake, the pressure became so great that a chip was thrown off the flake. By varying the direction of the pressure exerted against the flake, the direction of the fracture could be controlled. The fracture was almost directly in the line of pressure. "The writer has seen arrow and spear points made in this manner. In less than four minutes of measured time a flake was removed from a large piece of obsidian and reduced to a finely worked point. During this time complete explanation was made of the entire process. I know that this method will be questioned by many laymen, but not by persons who have investigated these methods of manufacture."

[Sasquatch]

Keep these type of posts coming! I loved watching that video.   I particularly liked the way he was pressure flaking. He was getting huge flakes.  Also what did he do to spall that piece of obsidian?

[soy]

X2!

[Dalton Knapper]

It is amazing he can make a thin point in that way. I may have to try that and see how it really works.
Thanks for the video resource. I watched one on Navajo Silversmithing too.

[Sasquatch]

Yep there's lots of videos.  I watched "before the white man came".  Made in 1918.  It wasn't an informational, more like a movie. 

[caveman2533]

Hollywood, I challenge anyone to make a point like he did from the spalling to the pressure flaking.   This from the site itself  "this film is a series of reenactments"

[Dalton Knapper]

I guess I was suckered Steve. It was such a strange method that I thought maybe there was something to it. In actuality, the angles are all wrong.

[Sasquatch]

I have seen people split a cobble stone like that.  I wonder if he is able to do that with the obsidian?   They had to get the flakes some how? Why would they change it, and lie about the method?   But I do agree that the angles were wrong.  Maybe he was doing something that the camera couldn't catch.  Idk  let me go watch again

[JackCrafty]

Obviously staged but no too cheesy.  The cooking methods are definitely more accurate than the knapping, although the method I've seen to leach the tannin from the acorns was done straight on the sand without leaves.

Anyway, knapping can be done on a wooden post like that, while kneeling on the ground, but not for very long... at least not for most of the guys I know, including myself.  Not to mention the cuts on the knees that would surely follow after a few minutes.  A pad on top of the leg, while seated, works better.  The knapper in the video was obviously inexperienced and was very patient to allow the leather pad to be "seeded" with flakes to pretend that he had removed them.

The composite arrow idea was probably taken from museum examples and then a script was written to show it's use.  Again, the Indian was inexperienced but patient (tolerant) to allow the staging and interpretation of certain equipment (like the back quiver) and methods.  The shooting style was interesting, though.

Just my opinion.

It was interesting to see the children holding atlatl darts.  hmmm ?

[JackCrafty]

As far as splitting the core like that (in the beginning of the vid), it is possible to accomplish and has been shown in many different contexts.  But I think, in this case, it's just a interpretation of the removal of blades from the sides of the core.  I'm pretty sure that most true arrowheads (bird points) from that area (California) were made on flakes and not from reduced bifaces.

video on "cobble splitting":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkfSJoXNOQo

[PAHunter]

Thanks that was fun!  I'm definitely trying to make some acorn mush this year.

[AncientTech]

Has anyone attempted to use this process yet?  The real details are in the written explanation.  Whether or not the video was "staged" is beside the point.  The written explanation explains how the process works.  By using two fulcrums, and causing the tip of the flaker to bear down on the platform, tremendous pressure is exerted.   

Also, Latta was not an "armchair scholar".  Like most early Native American scholars he delved into the culture and made a concerted effort to document what was left of the Yokut's cultural heritage. 

I do not see any reason why the process would not work.  Pressure works.  Leverage works.  Pressure and leverage cannot work?  I would like to know whether anyone else has had either success or failure with this process, as described in writing (not necessarily the reenactment).

I would be interested in carrying out some experiments with this process.  At the moment, I am behind on other experiments, especially experiments that pertain to the full reduction of solid quartz crystals, along with outresspasse flaking, in quartz crystal. 

Also, I live less than one mile from the "Hombre del Templo" site, where Ice Age human remains were discovered in a subterranean water system, that was dry over 10,000 years ago.  On account of this site, and similar sites, there is an Ice Age museum about one mile from my house.  And, since visiting with the lead researchers (they recently held a presentation at Paleo-American Odyssey) they are now extremely interested in my own research.  In fact, I may end up teaching archaeologists about undocumented lithic technologies. 

Initially, the head researcher said to me, "I am not interested in lithics."  Then, I told him how I had stumbled upon records widely ignored by modern flintknappers, starting around 2010.  After collecting hundreds of records, and searching through thousands of publications, I saw how an extreme range of one particular process should produce full blown outrepasse flaking, though it would be virtually impossible for the average flintknapper to understand this. 

My first attempt at carrying out the process, in January of 2015, was absolutely successful.  And, I have had many other successes since, while using the most common flintknapping tool -a common flaker - and raw knarly rock.

When the lead researcher saw my finished points, he marveled at them and said, "I am hooked!!"

Anyway, he must have been surprised that a person like myself could look at a particular line of evidence for almost five years before realizing that the evidence actually pointed to an incredible range of flaking - and not just a particular type of flaking.  That is the insight that took five years to acquire, and the reason why now I need to progress with quartz crystal, and some other materials, in order to better understand the flaking attributes, which involve multiple pressures, motion, vibrations, etc.  As a result, I do not have the time to work on Latta's notes, though it does not look as technologically sophisticated as the stuff that I am now working on.  So, if anyone else decides to follow the written instructions, let us know how it goes. 

By the way, if I had to take a guess, I would say that potential lateral slippage might be one of the greatest difficulties with the method recorded by Latta.  But, I also think that this could be countered by operating on soft leather - which was a common feature on some Native American flintknapping anvils.

Scenes from other work:
-  Quartz crystal outrepasse
           







-  Full blown opposite edge removal of thick, irregular edge





-  V base fluted point







-  Outrepasse flake



-  Edge eating finishing flaking











-  Technologically sophisticated removals in series along ridges:















The real joy is in recognizing that the details of what was once seen are broader than what most dare to imagine.  As a result, various types of ranges of flaking can be "pulled off" within certain parameters according to the will of the knapper.  And, that is why the underlying knowledge is needed.  And, this knowledge can be deduced from records that are largely going ignored.

Anyway, until I take care of the museum, and sort out my multi-faceted work in quartz crystal, I do not think that I will be good for much, when it comes to working with the technologies recorded by Latta.  So, if anyone else does have some success in this area, PLEASE POST THE RESULTS.

Thanks,

Ancient Tech

P.S.  Nothing beats the real McCoy

Disclaimer:  All rock shown is raw, including the heavy agatized coral outrepasse.  Also, the tool shown in the photos is the deer tine used to create the outré passé flakes.  So, there is no secret about the tool.  There it is, right along with raw rock.  Knowledge is the key.

[bowmo]

Man, awesome video indeed!

Love seeing authentic techniques that have fallen out of common use. Very interesting use of a wood anvil and an interesting way to knap. Reminds me of a video I once saw years ago when Natives when using a whole deer antler pressed against their chest to pressure flake with a rocking sort of motion, sort of similar to how we use Ishi sticks today.

Thanks for posting this!

[AncientTech]

Hello Bowmow,

I am glad that you enjoyed seeing the re-enactment.

Also, I think that it is worth pointing out that the Yokuts probably specialized in obsidian work.  And, that is key to keeping in sight what the process is all about. 

Realistically, obsidian is much easier to pressure flake, than raw chert, and even some heat treated chert.  Since many knappers do not typically work obsidian, it might be hard to understand why the process shown could be so effective - specifically in pressure flaking obsidian.

Also, you will probably almost never see authentic practices being used.  Even though Native Americans were flintknapping until the arrival of Columbus, the spread of steel and glass caused the original lithic practices to rapidly fade out.  When the introduction of the horse is factored in, what is seen is that materials spread more quickly - via ongoing trade - than even the people.  And, the rapid spread of modern materials led to the rapid collapse of lithic processes that had been carried out for thousands of years.  I mean, really, who is going to spend the time to teach his son to flintknap, when it is certain that steel will be everywhere, within the son's lifetime?  The age old flintknappers quickly became unemployed.  That probably sat sadly in their huts with wares that were no longer wanted.

So, by the time that people showed up and started recording the stuff, the specialists were gone, and the careful work of the specialist, was all but forgotten.  But, there are a few exceptions to this scenario.  In some areas, geographic isolation led to the ongoing perpetuation of lithic reduction practices.

Anyway, the reason why you will hardly ever see any real flintknapping practices used is because the practices were never well understood, the practices were not always documented, and because the subject was never adequately studied.  Also, in some flintknapping forums, they actually ban the discussion of authentic practices, which makes it even harder for people to find out the truth about Native American flintknapping.  Beyond this, most of the current flintknapping theories were created in Europe, at a time when the best model they had available was the Brandon gunflint model of flintknapping. 

Anyway, if people are interested in the subject of real Native American flintknapping, then maybe a person could start a section devoted to the subject.  This would exclude knapping with stone cut up with electric saws, stone cooked in kilns until it can be flaked with a fingernail, etc, etc.

Anyway, if you try this pressure method with obsidian, let us know how it works.  If I was not so busy, I would probably work on it, myself.     

[iowabow]

First I would adjust the process. The post would be longer so I could sit without the knees on the ground (agree with Jack crafty about cuts to knees). Second the contact point on post would cause some flakes to terminate so they must have hit just off center which could cause the stone to twist. Third the technique as show does not allow the body frame to provide good support during striking. Body mechanics are an important aspect to duplication of process. Forth once I have raised the post and are now sitting why not just use a board with a post like attachment and place it on the knees. See the problem is a knapping station will accumulate large amount of debris in a short amount of time so my post is going to soon have a conical pile around it. So if these ideas are some what strong then the archeological sites should have conical piles of flint with evidence of a post in the center. Is the post sitting on the ground or buried in it. I guess if it were movable it would make more sense but in the video it looked too small and to rigid to not be buried.
So if it were to work well:
1. It would need to be elevated
2. Flake release and termination/twisting issue would need to be considered. Maybe the contact point with the post would move closer to the platform. Platform to center ratio my need to be altered as well.
3. Body mechanics for stability would need to be incorporated...maybe on knee would touch the post for stability.
4. Deer hides would have to collect flakes for removal after flaking.
5. Post would have to be covered so rain would not rot the post.
6. Groups of knappers would find it difficult to work together (archeological evidence would have to support the technique as a group activity). Maybe circles of post in the ground.


just my two cents. I think points could be made like this but it is easier done in other ways.