Modern And Ancient Uses Of English Flint

Posted by Brett Slansky | 8:03 PM | 0 comments »

By Ryan Mitchell


The Stone Age lasted for around 3 million years. It ended with the advent of metalworking. As the name suggests, it was an age of stone. During the Stone Age, stone was widely use in making implements with a point, an edge, or a percussion. The discovery of Flint stones marked a turning point during the Stone Age. English flint revolutionized how early man built houses and started a fire. It changed the way people lived and it made life easier. This stone was first mined in Europe. Mines were later discovered in the Americas and it was booming business.

Flint served as a gemstone during the Stone Age. It is still used in gemstone making in the present world. It can be combined with other gems such as jasper. Flintstones are durable. They last for long. They easily occur in bright colors. Those that are not brightly colored can easily accept a bright polish. They can be used in producing rock tumbler.

Knapped flint has been used since antiquity as a building material. It was widely used in the Roman Empire. It is also used in the present day in combination with lime mortar and brick rubble to make stone walls. During the Middle Ages, it was common in Southern England and other parts of Europe where there was no good building stone.

Many ancient castles, churches, and houses were built using this stone. It was possible to achieve different decorative effects through the process of knapping. With time, knapping techniques greatly improved resulting in different arrangements and combinations. Some of the pebbles were even used in making ceramics that were placed on walls and floors. Flintstone bracelets were common in Ancient Egypt.

Flint changed the way humans made fire. It became a vital source of fire during the Stone Age. It has the ability to generate sparks when it is struck against steel. This property made it to be the ideal fire starter. A little tinder is also needed during the fire creation process. Later, it was used in making the earliest firearms.

During the Stone Age, most tools were made using Flintstones. They created the best sharp edged tools. This stone was used in making axes. The axe was primarily used in farming. As man started getting better in tool making, he started abandoning hunting and gathering in favor of tilling the land. Stone knives were used in preparing meat.

There is no early Western culture that did not make use of this valuable stone. It was widely found in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. In places where it was not readily available, people were ready to travel far and wide to find it. That led to a booming barter trade where people used to exchange valuable products for this stone.

Flintstones were formed through a physical and chemical process that took place millions of years ago. These important stones can be traced back to the early chalk seas. Sea organisms played a vital role in their formation. They were first discovered on surfaces near the ground. With time, people had to dig deeper to find the best stones.




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