![]() More properly, flint fishhooks should be termed chert fishhooks, but we have retained use of the term flint fishhook throughout this series of five blog posts because it is the term used most in American history and the term that is still used in casual conversation among ordinary citizens.Ĥ.0 Distribution of Flint Fishhooks in the United Statesįlint fishhooks are commonly found in private Native American artifact collections across Tennessee and the nation, and some museums have them in their collections and on display to the public. Flint fishhooks are made from many different types and colors of chert raw materials. Chert shatters easily during knapping and exhibits conchoidal (bulb-shaped) flaking scars as a result of the knapping process. This is the brittle, waxy rock from which most prehistoric lithic artifacts are made. An Assortment of Flint Fishhooksģ.0 Lithic Raw Materials Used to Make Flint Fishhooksįlint fishhooks are usually made from high-quality, easily worked flint (hence their name), which is more commonly referred to by petrologists and archaeologists as chert, a cryptocrystalline silicate stone that occurs naturally in Tennessee and many other states. Occasionally, a person will encounter a U-shaped flint fishhook, either with or without canine-tooth barbs.įigure 1. This extra spike was presumably added to better hold a fish on the hook, but its position often looks as if it would pose a hindrance to any fish that might want to bite on the hook. This spike is sometimes straight, or it can be curved forwards or backwards. The pointed end of the flint fishhook is designed to sink deeply into the oral flesh of the fish, allowing a fisherman to snag and haul in his catch.Īlthough not shown in Figure 1, some of the small, J-shaped flint fishhooks have narrow, thin, fragile-looking bodies with an exterior spike that protrudes downward from the bottom curve of the J. The bodies (sometimes called “shafts”) of J-shaped flint fishhooks are much wider than the bodies of our modern metal fishhooks, which leave the factory in a J shape. Still others have one or two top notches to hold the fishing line. Others have only a slightly expanded top for this purpose. The J-shaped flint fishhooks sometimes have an expanded, T-Shaped top for securely tying on a fishing line. This is the typical J-shaped flint fishhook. The most commonly seen ones are similar in shape and style to the dark-colored one in the bottom row (middle) of Figure 1. Flint fishhooks are often accompanied by an elaborate and detailed background story.įlint fishhooks come in various shapes and sizes, and they tend to be less than 7.62 cm in length (Figure 1). If you look really amazed and interested, the owner may tell you who found it, how it was found, when it was found, and where it was found. This’un here’s my pride and joy, the very best one in the whole box. Then he will reach for the old, yellowed handkerchief in the corner of the cigar box, carefully unfold it, and say: He will proudly present his whole pp/k’s, broken pp/k’s, drill bits, and other assorted lithic tools―and then―just like with Lame Beaver―say that you will soon be seeing a small god. If you bring up the subject of Native American artifacts in a living room conversation with one of these people, he will quickly run to his attic or garage, grab the box, and show off the artifacts inside it. Many of these fine citizens remember where they stashed their cigar box 35 years ago. They were used as spear thrower (atlatl) dart points or knives, and professional archaeologists often refer to them as projectile points/knives or use the initialism pp/k when talking or writing about them. Some of these artifacts are referred to as arrowheads by the average citizen, but most of these items were too large to be used on the business ends of arrows. Many of our citizens have an old King Edward, Swisher Sweets, or Roi-Tan cigar box full of assorted lithic artifacts that were found or otherwise accumulated during childhood. ![]() As the century was drawing to a close, Lame Beaver had lived half of it and seen many things―and now he had been told that he would see a god.Īlthough most citizens of Tennessee do not work as professional archaeologists or collect Native American artifacts as a hobby, it would be fair to say that a very large number of Tennesseans own a prehistoric lithic artifact that was found quite by accident, taken home, dropped into a drawer, and soon forgotten.
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