“ It used to be the Flint Ridge Knapping Fest , but we changed it to the Coshocton Flint Fest because we want to attract more of the public . It ’ s working because we are getting more people , and that ’ s what we are after .”
June 6 , 2024 The Beacon • 17
Flint Festival & Knap-In was held at the fairgrounds
By Marianne Austin For The Beacon
The Coshocton Flint Festival & Knap-In held May 24-26 at the Coshocton County Fairgrounds featured flint-knappers who specialize in replicating stone tools and creating modern lithic art . These handmade items are intended to be displayed or used . Lithic art items and flint rock for those wanting to try making their own arrow heads or flint art were available to purchase .
“ It started at Flint Ridge , and we transferred
to the Coshocton County Fairgrounds . We are doing the same things the Indians did many years ago ,” Roy Miller said . “ We come here to get our flints , and the Indians would come to Coshocton County to get their flints , and that ’ s what we are doing here , looking at all the flints . We have flints now from Texas , Israel and Australia coming here , so people have three choices .
“ It used to be the Flint Ridge Knapping Fest , but we changed it to the Coshocton Flint Fest because we want to attract more of the public . It ’ s working because we are getting more people , and that ’ s what we are after . Most of these vendors would come to Flint Ridge . I have property there , and we have the
“ It used to be the Flint Ridge Knapping Fest , but we changed it to the Coshocton Flint Fest because we want to attract more of the public . It ’ s working because we are getting more people , and that ’ s what we are after .”
Roy Miller
Flint Ridge Museum .”
Miller found out he had flint with greens , purples and yellows .
“ Flint Ridge at Newark is where we get it ,” he said . “ Some of the flint was sticking up out of the ground , so I tested it and found out it was green flint . I didn ’ t know it when I bought the land . I got a backhoe and started digging out flint , and now it is an addiction . I kept digging it . The Indians took the top of the flint because it was the easiest to get . I found out it is all the way down along the sides , from the top all the way to the bottom . So it did leave plenty for me , and it ’ s only good around the outside edge about 12 inches . The inside is not as good because it is more grainy and tougher .”
Miller ’ s property has outcrops of multicolored flint used for modern lithic art .
“ At Coshocton Fairgrounds we can have old artifacts here too ,” he said . “ So we promote that with the modern lithic art . We are trying to build a whole event . Also , the lapidary people who make jewelry are here . If you like rocks , this is the place to come .”
Charlie Brecken from Pennsylvania was selling flint-knapping tools and Indian artifact reproductions .
“ We sell tools and supplies for making arrowhead reproductions and Indian artifact reproductions ,” he said . “ People are knapping them , which is just the art of working stone . So they
Marianne Austin
Charlie Brecken from Pennsylvania was selling flint-knapping tools , Indian artifact reproductions and flint rocks .
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are taking little flakes and chips off and working them into arrowheads . They use them as decoration , and some still use them for hunting . I ’ ve been coming here about 20 years . Flint Ridge is just south of here , and there is a pretty good abundance of stone here in Coshocton County .”
Evan Phillips from Logan was hanging out with friends and fellow flintknappers from Indiana , Raymond and Jake .
“ We are all modern flint-knappers ,” Phillips said . “ Flint-knapping is just the tradition of simple manufacturing . It ’ s what my ancestors did for thousands of years up until modern times . A lot
of us like to preserve that history that we don ’ t want to see lost , and so that is why we ’ re all here doing this . Jake is doing direct percussion , and Raymond is doing some pressure work . Some people go out to a quarry ; some buy flint from people who have it . It took about two hours to make an arrowhead out of an 8-pound rock , and I can use what ’ s left to create other hunting tools . Some guys sell their stuff ; I like to use my stuff . In July I plan to go out to the Rockies with a buddy and do some hunting .”
A Fall Knap-In is planned at the Coshocton Fairgrounds on Labor Day weekend , Aug . 30-31 and Sept . 1 , rain or shine , from 9 a . m . to 5 p . m . on Friday and Saturday and 9 a . m . to 2 p . m . on Sunday .
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