The Art & Science of Flintknapping

Have you ever wondered how arrow points are made? Come learn the art of making stone tools using traditional techniques, aka flintknapping!

This weekend retreat includes lodging at Joshua Tree Retreat Center. 

This is a leisurely activity - less than 2 miles of walking and multiple hours outdoors in the elements. 

Jeanne Day Binning, Ph.D., Senior Cultural Resources Specialist, California Department of Transportation. Dr. Binning has been a professional archaeologist for over 50 years and has been flintknapping for over 40 years and has received flintknapping instruction from Jeff Flenniken, Jacques Tixier, Jacques Pelegrin, Mark Newcomer, Errett Callahan, Gene Titmus, and Tim Dillard.

Join us for a weekend of learning for those who want to make stone tools using traditional techniques and/or want to understand the waste products of the flint knapping process. The class is taught by Jeanne Day Binning and Ph.D. Brian Barbier, M.A. at the Joshua Retreat Center, in Joshua Tree, CA. The class is limited to 12 students.

Planned activities include heat treatment of chert, basic percussion biface reduction (with hammerstone and billet), basic pressure flaking (including notching), the use of an atlatl, and the use of a single stave “self-bow”. Each participant has the opportunity to create a handle for an arrow point, dart point, or knife. Groundstone manufacture is also covered. Rock samples and different types of debitage are available for students to study during the class. 

Required items participants need to bring for your course: daypack, 10 desert essentials, gloves, shoes that completely cover feet, meals are not included however, you may bring your own food and cook. Optional Equipment (all tools needed for knapping will be supplied for the duration of the class; however, if you have your own kit, bring it) leather shammy, larger piece of leather that will cover the lap when folded over at least once, bastard file, camera.

This weekend class takes place at the Ding Le Mei House at the Joshua Tree Retreat Center in the town of Joshua Tree. This venue is perfect for an intimate weekend course, with room to sleep up to 16 guests in 10 bedrooms. The house also includes a good-sized living room for meetings or yoga, a dining area, and a fully equipped kitchen. Meals are not included but there is a kitchen to cook meals and a refrigerator to store your food. If you wish to not cook in the home, the town of Yucca Valley is a few minutes away with a lot of dining options. Please note that you will be in the same house as other participants in the class. 

Photo credit: Desert Institute Volunteer