How to Make an Arrowhead

Use Percussion Flaking

• 1

  Select rock that is brittle and uniform in structure and texture. Look for rock that does not have inclusions, frost fractures or other flaws. Seek a fine-grained rock or rock that has no grains.

• 2

  Realize that flint, jasper, chalcedony, quartzite and obsidian are best for flint napping. Expect the rocks to fracture in a characteristic way when struck with bone, antler or another rock.

• 3

  Use percussion flaking to remove flakes by striking the edge of the raw material with a forceful, sharp blow.

• 4

  Select a soft hammer or a hard hammer. Use a controlled strike with a hard hammer. Chip away large areas of hard rock with a hard hammer. Flake very brittle rock such as obsidian with a soft hammer because greater control is required.

• 5

  Choose some soft limestone, some sandstone or another soft rock to dull the rock's edge. Grind the edge being worked dull before removing the flake. Know that this process aids in preventing the collapse of the edge.

Use Other Methods

• 6

  Clamp a device onto the core that is being worked in indirect percussion flaking. Use both hands to chip off flakes with precision and force. Hold a section of bone or antler against the core with one hand. Strike the selected area with the other hand to knock off flakes.

• 7

  Put pressure on an edge to remove a flake with pressure flaking. Use bone, antler tine or sharpened hardwood to apply pressure accurately. Strike outward and downward to chip off flakes. Know the method can sharpen and straighten the edges of a finished spear and chip a tool to its final shape.

• 8

  Apply high heat gradually to improve the quality of certain materials. Expect the luster and color of the rock to change visibly. Know that the texture turns less grainy and smoother which improves the rock's flaking quality.

• 9

  Use heat on small and medium arrowheads, flakes or small areas on the arrowhead.

• 10

  Make a good-sized fire and allow it to burn down to hot sand and glowing coals. Dig a pit and add the remains of the fire. Place the warmed pieces of chert into the pit and cover with sand. Build a new fire and allow it to burn out over a 24-hour period. Remove the heat-treated rocks.