Period: General Neolithic

Project title: Identification of flint knapping by children at Stone Age settlements

Researchers: Mikkel Sørensen, Ph.D. archaeology, SILA, Copenhagen, Denmark

and Farina Sternke, Ph.D student, Southampton Univerisity, United Kingdom 

E-mail: mikkel.soerensen(at)natmus.dk or f.sternke(at)soton.ac.uk

Year: 2002

Abstract:

When flint tools from Stone Age settlements are investigated archaeologists normally look at the examples that are finished and “standardised”. For this reason flint artefacts made by inexperienced flint knappers such as children are often overlooked. This experiment involves observing the way in which children learn and experiment with flint knapping when they are inspired by experienced flint craftsmen. The children’s products will subsequently be compared with archaeological finds in order perhaps to trace the inexperienced flint knappers. The experiment is inspired by sociological theories and the desire to get closer to the mentality of Stone Age people.

Reference number: HAF 16/02