Stones That Tell Stories
A Monthly Journey Into the World of Stone Points with Jim Redfearn.
Presented by the Dade County Historical Society at Hulston Mill Historical Park.
Have you ever looked at a stone point and wondered who made it, what it was used for, or how someone could shape a simple piece of rock into something so remarkable? Well, we're about to find out! We're excited to introduce a new monthly article, featuring Jim Redfearn, who will take us on a fascinating journey into the world of stone points, flintknapping, and the stories behind these incredible pieces of craftsmanship. Each month, Jim will share his knowledge and introduce us to different points, materials, and techniques, helping us better understand the skill and history behind these small but remarkable pieces of the past.
And we're kicking things off with a beauty!
This Month's Feature: The Snyder Point
Take a closer look at the striking orange-and-cream point pictured here! Jim identifies this piece as a Snyder point, a style he describes as having been used as a knife by the Hopewell people. He also notes that examples of this point style are found across a distribution area stretching from Missouri to Ohio. Traditionally, a Snyder point would typically have been made from Midwestern cherts, such as Burlington chert, Mozarkite, or other stones available within the point's distribution area. But Jim's example has a modern twist!
From Australia to Jim's Workbench
This point is made from Mookaite jasper, a colorful natural stone from Australia. With its rich orange tones and creamy yellow accents, it's easy to see why Jim chose this material for such a distinctive piece. As Jim explains, modern knappers enjoy working with exotic stone from around the world. While ancient craftspeople generally worked with materials available to them through local sources and trade, today's knappers have access to an incredible variety of stones from across the globe.
Jim started with raw stone, and shaping it into the finished point tested his abilities as a knapper. Flintknapping is the art of carefully shaping stone by removing small flakes through controlled strikes or pressure. It takes patience, precision, and a good understanding of how each particular stone will behave. One wrong strike can change the shape entirely—or even break the piece. Working with raw material adds another layer of difficulty because the knapper must learn the stone's characteristics while carefully working toward the desired shape. The result is a beautiful example of the skill, patience, and creativity involved in this traditional craft.
More Than Just a Pretty Point
Stone points can tell us much more than what meets the eye.The materials, shapes, and methods used to make them can help researchers understand ancient technology, trade, and daily life. They also remind us of the remarkable knowledge people developed long before modern tools and machinery existed. As Jim guides us through this monthly series, we'll have opportunities to look more closely at individual points, explore the materials used to make them, and learn about the techniques that turn raw stone into carefully crafted objects.Every point has a story, and Jim is here to help us explore it!
Join Us Each Month! We're excited to have Jim Redfearn share his knowledge with the Dade County Historical Society and our Hulston Mill community. Whether you're a longtime collector, a history enthusiast, someone interested in traditional crafts, or simply curious about the world around you, we hope you'll follow along! You never know what fascinating discovery might be waiting in the next installment.
We believe history is best shared, explored, and enjoyed together. Because sometimes, the smallest pieces hold the biggest stories.