Lithics

Stone from the original quarries of Paleo Americans

The Paleo Americans used Fort Payne Flint/Chert extensively for survival. I hand pick this material and go through many pounds looking for suitable rock. I try to pick rock that I personally would like to knap and look for rock with as few fractures as possible. However without x-ray vision I can't guarantee that you might come across a few fractures but such is the way of knapping. Sometimes you make points and other times it's gravel. I do believe your reputation is based on your most recent sales and always try for customer satisfaction. I also value any feedback you may have as I always like to improve my products.

I occasionally have other unique varieties of Ft. Payne such as Horse Creek and Buffalo River material. I usually keep Buffalo River in stock and you can use the buy it now button on the Blue/Black material and just e-mail me at paleorocks@comcast.net and let me know that you want Buffalo River material. It's currently the same price as the Blue/Black but due to the travel and gasoline costs the price of the Buffalo River material may have to be adjusted at some future date.

The Horse Creek material you should definitely e-mail me first to check on availability. I currently do not have a buy it now button setup for Horse Creek due to it's scarcity.

Example of Blue/Black Flint Example ot Caramel/Tan Flint

Clovis knapped with Blue/Black material by Don Rogers

Blue/Black
(currently in stock)
A Hi Grade blue/black with inclusions of light blue/gray which varies from semigloss to glossy. This was the primary material used locally by the Paleo people. It holds an edge well and needs no heat treatment. $2.00 lb. shipped in 25+ lb lots using the flat rate USPS Priority Mail box. If you pay for 25 lbs you will generally get more as I always try to competely fill the box on 25 lb. orders. On one occasion I was able to get 30 lbs. in one box. The average is about 27 lb. on the Blue/Black. You can also purchase smaller amounts but for efficiency its hard to beat USPS rates for shipping anywhere in the USA for a full box of flint.

Caramel/Tan Ft Payne
(currently in stock but running low)
Not quite as dense as the blue black so its tough to get more than about 25 lb in a flat rate box. A beginners delight. Nice ring. My personal favorite. This material could possibly be heat treated although I find no need of it. Also $2.00 lb. I will occasionally substitute Hi quality Tan Buffalo River material which is actually a variety of Fort Payne material when I run low on the Caramel/Tan. Technically the Caramel Tan is actually a highly oxidized/ patinated/mineralized form of the Blue/Black which has soaked for eons in either a creek or land environment and has picked up minerals from the surrounding area.

Buffalo River Black and Tan
(currently in stock)
Excellent material. Comes in Black and Tan however the black is quite scarce. Comes in nice size river cobbles. The blacks are almost fracture free and the tans can be heated to a nice maroon should you want to heat the material. Currently $2.00 lb.

Horse Creek
(currently out of stock as of 6/11/07 except for some smaller material that might be suitable for Lapidary or Cabbing and maybe a few smaller points)
This beautiful red, yellow and sometimes blue material is unique. It's only found in a few counties in Northeast Mississippi, Southern middle Tennessee and Northwest Alabama. It's likely the most beautiful material used by native Americans. It is rare and will eventually be exhausted due to collecting pressure. $4.50 lb. for the Hi Grade material which has great colors and can be as large as 6 inch. $3.50 for the Mid Grade material. Mid Grade is smaller material with slightly less brilliance (maroon and mauve color). I always pick material that I think has a chance of making a point regardless of the grade.

Authentic Artifacts Horse Creek Chert
Charles Moore Collection

Example of Heat Treated Horse Creek Chert

Each batch of Chert/Flint is unique. I alway try and sell the best material possible because I believe quality and reputation is only as good as your last sale. I value quality over quantity. I may have 50 or 75lb available immediately but you will need to contact me for a time estimate for orders larger than that.

There are two ways to order flint. 1. Just e-mail or call me "contacts page" or 2. You can check out the "Flint Chert" page which has individual batches for sale. The batches currently pictured have long been sold as most of my regular customers know but they are now representative batches. You can click on the buy it now button and receive as good or better batch than what is shown in the picture. The (buy now) button is included for your convenience with this type batch purchase.