Susquehanna Valley Flintknappers: The 2015 Bald Eagle Knap-In

Image of the lake during 2014 Bald Eagle Knap-In

It rained, rained again and then some more but the 2015 Bald Eagle Knap-In turned out to be another great year. While numbers were down spirits still remained high as a beautiful first day on Friday turned into a very rainy weekend. Knappers came from all over some for the first time others for the 16th yr in a row. For that past 4 years Bald Eagle State Park has provided a wonderful location for the event at the swimming area of Foster Joseph Sayers Reservoir a 1,730 acre lake created by the Army Corps. of Engineers. Be sure to read more about the event after the jump.

For anyone out there who has never been to a knap-in before, or maybe never heard of flint knapping, let me explain.

Flint knapping is the primitive skill of making stone tools such as arrowheads, spear-tips, and knives through predictably fracturing rock. While understanding this skill is important purely for historical reasons, flint knapping has been elevated to an art form by many modern knappers. A knap-in is an organized gathering of flint knappers, usually with events designed to entertain seasoned knappers and the public alike.

Georgetown Chert Hardin

Friday kicked off the event with beautiful sunny weather. Visitors had a chance to learn about making homemade soap, try their hands at throwing the atlatl, or learn about making arrowheads. While knappers traded tips on techniques, purchased unique rock, and showed off their best work. Saturday brought all day rain and wind that threatened to wash out some of our programming, but we

were pleased with the turnout. Kids had the opportunity to make their own arrowheads, use a hand drill to make pendants, and listen to Native American storytelling. Additional presentations throughout the day demonstrated primitive fire making, bannock bread, primitive traps, and a dug out canoe.

Primitive trapping by Guy from Primal-Knowledge.com

Soap Making demo by Quiet Creek

A hit every year is the atlatl range. Atlatl is a primitive spear thrower and method of hunting that predates the bow and arrow. The Bald Eagle Knap-In hosts every year the Terry Keefer Atlatl Tournement. This year the mens division was won by Doug Basset, female devision by Jacklyn Bookhammer, and the youth division by Marlin Basset. During the event Marlin Basset set the youth ISAC record* for 2015 with an 89x putting him into 1st place in the World Atlatl Association Youth Division.

*Youth ISAC first place standing as of 6/27/15

While the weather put a damper on the event flintknappers still produced points and pounded away at the many materials available to the modern knapper. Eric's Rocks provided a variety of materials thats not easily available in one location ranging from obsidian and burlington, to Horse Creek, Hixton, and Knife River. While no longer a formal rock and tool dealer Steve Nissley had a selection of PA Jasper for sale mostly collected by Jay McManus. Some of the highly variegated jasper has never before been available to modern knappers.

Variegated PA Jasper (Size 7.5in by 6.5in)

PA Jasper Susquehanna Broad Point by Steve Nissley

A big Thank You is extended to all who came and enjoyed the rainy wet weekend, and especially the Bald Eagle State Park Staff who help to make the event a success. We hope to see everyone again next year!

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