Flintknapping on the Palouse
by Harvey Hughett

First, just what is the "Palouse?" Most people agree that it is the 4,000 square mile region of rolling hills that stretches from about Lewiston, Idaho to southern end of Lake Coeur d'Alene, including land in eastern Washington. If one includes additional areas outside of the Palouse, the larger area is generally known as the Inland Northwest Region. The name Palouse comes from the Native American tribe that used to roam the area's huge grasslands with their large herds of horses, the Palus Indians. They were sophisticated in breeding and are credited (along with other area tribes) with the widely popular Appaloosa Horse (the word originating from "A Palus" horse).

Flint Knappers in the Inland Northwest Region are widely scattered and very loose knit, only meeting occasionally, with travel distances being an issue. Because I don't have their permission, I won't list last names of a few key knappers that I've worked with in the region.

Although I've been knapping for more than 35 years, I'm certainly not the first knapper in the region, nor remotely close to the best. In fact, the late Don Crabtree was a distinguished teacher in the anthropology department at the University of Idaho and taught flint knapping classes years before I was born. Crabtree is world famous for his knapping skills and most flint knappers today could trace some of what they learned back to those who Crabtree taught. His personal library and much of his lithic collection are housed at the University and may be viewed by appointment.

Because flint knappers in the Inland Northwest are so widely scattered, I don't pretend to know even a fraction of them as I'm always running into someone new who knaps that I'd not heard of. Some that I do know in the immediate area are Dave Q. of Potlatch, ID (archeologist, excellent percussion knapper, and teaches knapping to students at the UI. There are very, very few people more conscientious and dedicated to teaching knapping than Dave); Dr. Lee S. of Moscow, ID (professor of anthropology at the University of Idaho who teaches "Abo only" techniques); Charles P. from the desert country west of Spokane, WA who learned knapping from Joe Higgins (founder of Puget Sound Knappers) and is one of the best knappers in the area; Andy B., of Julietta, ID who I met not too many years ago. I taught him the basics of knapping, we went to Oregon and California to collect rocks, and within 6 months he was a wonderful knapper, the fastest learner that I've ever met. Today, he can make about any style point well but prefers long blades up to 20"…and with flawless flake scar patterns…all with pressure flaking (his arm muscles are like steel bands). After teaching him the basics of knapping, he soon was teaching me new techniques that he'd learned on his own!; John H., a full-time archeologist for an area tribe;Then there is Dan S. of Weippe, ID who moved to the area from Redding, CA. Dan has forgotten more about knapping than most will ever learn (Really, he's unbelieveably talented and knows extremely well how to make rock respond to his caresses. He would be comfortable in any group of master knappers). I met Dan in the Electric Blue pit at Davis Creek, CA many years ago; and there's Jim C. of Palouse, WA, who is in his early twenties, just started knapping a few years ago and is already selling killer points and blades in area stores; Lynn, C. of Moscow who has gone to Glass Buttes with me and makes nice points and teaches others every chance he gets; Ray H. of Post Falls, ID (recently from CA) who is a long-time knapper who has gone way out of his way to spread the word that “Knapping is a Great Hobby”; Blaine K. of Pend d'Oreille, ID, who would rather make medieval weapons than stone ones but is known to “break rocks” too; Chuck S. of Benewah County who knaps and selflessly shares the hobby with his neighbors and friends; Joanne M., recently of Cottonwood, ID, an archeologist and budding knapper and atlatl enthusiast. She is especially interested in lithics and feels that she cannot understand stone artifacts well until she masters replicating the techniques herself. As you know, she's right on that. Last summer, on the Cooper's Ferry archeological dig she picked up a 9,000 year old arrow point and pointed out a hinge fracture and an overshot flake. By the way, that point was made of beautiful green rock and identified as being from a small source not far away in"the Snake River Canyon.