A flintknapper is an individual who manufactures chipped-stone tools through the process of lithic reduction. This is done by using a fabricator, such as a hammerstone, to remove lithic flakes from a nucleus or core of tool stone. More refined work can be done using wood, bone, and antler tools to perform pressure flaking.
In prehistoric cultures flintknappers were common, but the art has all but died out in modern times. However, there are some hobbyists and archeologists who teach themselves flintknapping even today. Although their reasons for doing so are varied, archeologists usually undertake the task so that they can better understand how prehistoric stone tools were made.
For more information, see lithic reduction.
