Making of celts and other hardstone tools???

[archer66]

Does anyone have a link or information that would explain the process of making celts and axes? How large of a piece of material would be needed to start? How did they work it down to the size and shape intended? How did they sharpen? How did they polish? I found a large oblong shaped rock today...approx 7 inches long and 4 inches in diameter that appears to be made of the same material that the celt I found earlier this week. I found it in the same creek as the celt...in fact within about 15 feet. It doesn't really show and obvious signs of being worked but I wonder if it could have been used as a hammer stone or maybe was another piece of raw material? Here is a picture....

 

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[ohio]

Nice celt. The ancients used a process of "pecking and grinding" to reduce the stone mass. They would select a stone that was as close the desired final shape as possible. I am sure someone else will elaborate.

Chuck

 

[The Grim Reaper]

Here's a couple of links that explain the proccess for making Stone Tools. Like Chuck said, they would pick a suitable stone and then peck and grind on it to get it into shape.

http://www.uiowa.edu/~osa/learn/ancient/groundstone.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_tool

 

[SoIll]

http://flintknapper.com/How to make a stone axe.htm

 

[pickaway]

Sandstone kicks butt... amazing what you find made of it and the uses it was put too...