Flint

[[Flint mining]] is attested since the [[Paleolithic]], but became more common since the [[Neolithic]] (notably among the [[Michelsberg culture]] and [[Funnelbeaker culture]]). In Europe, some of the best toolmaking flint has come from Belgium ([[Obourg]], flint mines of [[Spiennes]]),{{Cite web |url=http://www.minesdespiennes.org/en.html |title=Neolithic Flint Mines of Petit-Spiennes ''Official web site'' |access-date=16 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071231104655/http://minesdespiennes.org/en.html |archive-date=31 December 2007 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} the coastal chalks of the [[English Channel]], the [[Paris Basin]], [[Thy (district)|Thy]] in [[Jutland]] (flint mine at [[Hou (Odder Municipality)|Hov]]), the Sennonian deposits of [[Rügen]], [[Grimes Graves]] in England, the Upper Cretaceous chalk formation of [[Dobruja]] and the lower [[Danube]] (Balkan flint), the Cenomanian chalky marl formation of the [[Moldavian Plateau]] (Miorcani flint), and the [[Jurassic]] deposits of the [[Kraków]] area and [[Krzemionki]] in Poland, as well as of the [[Lägern]] ([[silex]]) in the [[Jura Mountains]] of Switzerland.

[[Flint mining]] is attested since the [[Paleolithic]], but became more common since the [[Neolithic]] (notably among the [[Michelsberg culture]] and [[Funnelbeaker culture]]). In Europe, some of the best toolmaking flint has come from Belgium ([[Obourg]], flint mines of [[Spiennes]]),{{Cite web |url=http://www.minesdespiennes.org/en.html |title=Neolithic Flint Mines of Petit-Spiennes ''Official web site'' |access-date=16 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071231104655/http://minesdespiennes.org/en.html |archive-date=31 December 2007 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} the coastal chalks of the [[English Channel]], the [[Paris Basin]], [[Thy (district)|Thy]] in [[Jutland]] (flint mine at [[Hou (Odder Municipality)|Hov]]), the Sennonian deposits of [[Rügen]], [[Grimes Graves]] in England, the Upper Cretaceous chalk formation of [[Dobruja]] and the lower [[Danube]] (Balkan flint), the Cenomanian chalky marl formation of the [[Moldavian Plateau]] (Miorcani flint), and the [[Jurassic]] deposits of the [[Kraków]] area and [[Krzemionki]] in Poland, as well as of the [[Lägern]] ([[silex]]) in the [[Jura Mountains]] of Switzerland.

In 1938, a project of the [[Ohio Historical Society]], under the leadership of H. Holmes Ellis began to study the knapping methods and techniques of [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native Americans]]. Like past studies, this work involved experimenting with actual knapping techniques by creation of stone tools through the use of techniques like direct freehand percussion, freehand pressure and pressure using a rest. Other scholars who have conducted similar experiments and studies include [[William Henry Holmes]], [[Alonzo W. Pond]], [[Sir Francis Knowles, 5th Baronet|Francis H. S. Knowles]] and [[Don Crabtree]].Flenniken, J. Jeffrey. "The Past, Present, and Future of Flintknapping: An Anthropological Perspective." Annual Review of Anthropology 13 (1984): 187-203. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2155667 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200910110255/https://www.jstor.org/stable/2155667 |date=10 September 2020 }}

In 1938, a project of the [[Ohio Historical Society]], under the leadership of H. Holmes Ellis began to study the knapping methods and techniques of [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native Americans]]. Like past studies, this work involved experimenting with actual knapping techniques by creation of stone tools through the use of techniques like direct freehand percussion, freehand pressure and pressure using a rest. Other scholars who have conducted similar experiments and studies include [[William Henry Holmes]], [[Alonzo W. Pond]], [[Sir Francis Knowles, 5th Baronet|Francis H. S. Knowles]] and [[Don Crabtree]].{{cite journal | last1=Flenniken | first1=J. Jeffrey | title=The Past, Present, and Future of Flintknapping: An Anthropological Perspective | journal=Annual Review of Anthropology | date=1984 | volume=13 | pages=187–203 | doi=10.1146/annurev.an.13.100184.001155 | jstor=2155667 | url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/2155667 }}

To reduce susceptibility to fragmentation, flint/[[chert]] may be heat-treated, being slowly brought up to a temperature of {{convert|150|to|260|C|F|sigfig=2}} for 24 hours, then slowly cooled to [[room temperature]]. This makes the material more homogeneous and thus more [[wikt:knap|knappable]] and produces tools with a cleaner, sharper cutting edge. If temperatures exceed this, the flint has a tendency to explode; therefore deliberate use of this technique suggests a strong understanding of pyrotechnology.{{Cite journal|title=Heat alterations of flint artefacts: archaeological evidence, experiments and analyses|url=https://doi.org/10.57573/be-ja.10.111-141|journal=Bulgarian e-Journal of Archaeology {{!}} Българско е-Списание за Археология|date=2020-06-07|issn=1314-5088|pages=111–141|volume=10|issue=1|doi=10.57573/be-ja.10.111-141|first=Мaria|last=Gurova|first2=Polina|last2=Andreeva|first3=Aleksandar|last3=Nikolov|first4=Borislav|last4=Barbov|first5=Maria|last5=Kostadinova-Avramova}} The current earliest evidence of deliberately heat-treated chert comes from [[Hoedjiespunt|Hoedjiespunt 1]] in South Africa, dating [[Last Interglacial|MIS- 5e]] (130-119 kya) which corresponds to the [[Middle Stone Age]].{{Cite journal|title=When was silcrete heat treatment invented in South Africa?|url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-020-0454-z|journal=Palgrave Communications|date=2020-04-29|issn=2055-1045|pages=73|volume=6|issue=1|doi=10.1057/s41599-020-0454-z|language=en|first=Patrick|last=Schmidt|first2=Deano|last2=Stynder|first3=Nicholas J.|last3=Conard|first4=John E.|last4=Parkington}}

To reduce susceptibility to fragmentation, flint/[[chert]] may be heat-treated, being slowly brought up to a temperature of {{convert|150|to|260|C|F|sigfig=2}} for 24 hours, then slowly cooled to [[room temperature]]. This makes the material more homogeneous and thus more [[wikt:knap|knappable]] and produces tools with a cleaner, sharper cutting edge. If temperatures exceed this, the flint has a tendency to explode; therefore deliberate use of this technique suggests a strong understanding of pyrotechnology.{{Cite journal|title=Heat alterations of flint artefacts: archaeological evidence, experiments and analyses|url=https://doi.org/10.57573/be-ja.10.111-141|journal=Bulgarian e-Journal of Archaeology |date=2020-06-07|issn=1314-5088|pages=111–141|volume=10|issue=1|doi=10.57573/be-ja.10.111-141|first1=Мaria|last1=Gurova|first2=Polina|last2=Andreeva|first3=Aleksandar|last3=Nikolov|first4=Borislav|last4=Barbov|first5=Maria|last5=Kostadinova-Avramova}} The current earliest evidence of deliberately heat-treated chert comes from [[Hoedjiespunt|Hoedjiespunt 1]] in South Africa, dating [[Last Interglacial|MIS- 5e]] (130-119 kya) which corresponds to the [[Middle Stone Age]].{{Cite journal|title=When was silcrete heat treatment invented in South Africa?|url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-020-0454-z|journal=Palgrave Communications|date=2020-04-29|issn=2055-1045|pages=73|volume=6|issue=1|doi=10.1057/s41599-020-0454-z|language=en|first1=Patrick|last1=Schmidt|first2=Deano|last2=Stynder|first3=Nicholas J.|last3=Conard|first4=John E.|last4=Parkington}}

===To ignite fire or gunpowder===

===To ignite fire or gunpowder===