Greenstone & Rock Pecking

[Brian Curnel]

I was going to make a celt after all these years of using a hand axe. I want to expand my primitive toolbox by rock pecking a greenstone piece, the only problem is that I cannot find any greenstone, most all limestone here. So does anyone have an alternate stone that will serve as a Celt? Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Bri

 

[Grooveski]

I think fine-grain basalt is the next best thing. Folk don't seem to have put the same work into polishing them as they did with greenstone though. Don't know if that's because it doesn't polish as well or if it's regional differences.
Any pics I've seen have had a similar cutting angle to greenstone, maybe just a touch more obtuse and rounded.

If it helps any, here's a couple of pics of greenstone. It comes in various grain(well-particle) sizes.

Finer material is knappable but doesn't polish up as well. The bottom-right lump is an old broken drill of really tight stuff.
Larger grained greenstone is a bit brittle and prone to endshock. Not good for an axe but folk would have known the design changes to make. The large grain material was heavily mined, so presumably was heavily used).
Weathering is present even on artifacts and faces only 1000 years old or so. Weathers to white or purple depending on particle size(purple is large). Weathering is never green .

The dark medium grain greenstone polishes up to a very useful edge but I've only tried it on that one wee 1 1/2" "pocketknife".

 

[Brian Curnel]

Thanks!! That really helps me out on lithic ID. Have you ever heard of oiling the stone for tempering or polishing?

 

[torjusg]

Any river cobble that looks like an unsharpened celt could be usable (if it meets the other requirements). Less pecking make the job easier. I don't care much for identifying different types of rock, but put more weigth on knowing the properties needed.

For a good axestone you need:

-Hardness
-Uniformity
-That it still crumbles when hit with a sharp and hard stone (as opposed to flaking)

If a stone looks hard and uniform, but that you still can see small grains in the surface texture, it is probably usable.

I wonder how well a neolithic flint axe would perform? I just dont' think I have the patience to grind flint.

Torjus Gaaren

 

[Brian Curnel]

Thanks Torjus, I just spent about 9 hors yesterday grinding a river cobble and need about 3 or 4 more to get it sharp. Its a chore but it will never rust has a lifetime guarantee and is muti-faceted. I can use this as an Adz or a celt, even a handaxe, or a boiling stone. So it is versatile for me anyhow. But I agree that lithic ID is not my strongpoint and I just wanted to make this tool for the reasons listed above. Thanks a lot! I appreciate your help...

Bri