(up-dated 1/April/09)
THE HACKER FLAKER, A HAFTED FLINTKNAPPING TOOL FROM THE LOWER ILLINOIS RIVER VALLEY.
(Photo by Liz Hansen CAA) The top artifact is a hafted copper pressure flaker with it's antler handle.
Here's a photo of the Hacker flaker in-situ. It's between the shell and the gorget.
It was found in the late 70's on the Hacker
site in the Lower Illinois River Valley
in Jersey Co., Il.
The bottom artifact is a copper notching tool from Naples Mound. Note the "nail heads" on the proximal ends
THE SNYDERS FLAKER
(Photo LK)
This is another flaker from the Snyder site in Calhoun Co. Ill. It also has a "nail head" on the proximal end. It was found by Greg Perino. There's a possible exhausted or rejected flaker above it.
MODERN FLAKERS
These are modern pressure flakers that Larry uses today. They are fashioned after the ones from the Illinois River Valley. The top one, especially, shows use polish from about 20 years of active knapping use. Old tools from the Woodland period probably showed similar use polish on their antler, bone, or wooden handles.