CONTINUED
FROM PAGE 1
MODERN POINTS AND
ECCENTRICS
BY JOHN
KIERNAN
PAGE 2 OF 2
|
CLICK ON
PICTURE FOR LARGE IMAGE
ECCENTRICS
BY JOHN KIERNAN
PHOTO BY JOHN KIERNAN
These 20 eccentrics were all made by John Kiernan. The variety of
shapes seems endless. |
All the pieces he makes,
even the smallest, are signed and dated with a diamond scribe. He also
alters the authentic looking type pieces so that people who know lithics
can identify them as modern made. For one thing, he grinds the inside of
all the notches on points like Gunther or Cahokia points. This will help
give them away as modern because, as he says, "I do not want to
pollute the archaeological record".
CLICK ON
PICTURE FOR LARGE TRIPLE IMAGE
HOLLOW BASE POINT
BY JOHN KIERNAN
A very well made Hollow Base Point. A style from ancient Egypt. This
one is made of Knife River chert from North Dakota. |
John believes that flint
knappers are an important resource that can help archaeologists better
understand and interpret the artifacts they find on scientifically
excavated sites. Experimental archaeology is actually very
important. It allows scientists to get closer to primitive
technology and replicate processes that, many of which, are no
longer used in the world of today. A few stone tools are still used in New
Guinea or Irian Jaya but metal has just about replaced them all.
"ECCENTRIC" HOLLOW
BASE POINT
BY JOHN KIERNAN
Pretty delicate work! Another point made with the Egyptian Hollow
Base Point theme in mind. |
John believes he is just
getting warmed up with his flint knapping. He says "there is
limitless potential in stone. Its only been used as tools for a few
million years"!
CLICK ON
PICTURE FOR LARGE TRIPLE IMAGE
ECCENTRIC
BY JOHN KIERNAN
John's influence for this point must come from the Maya
eccentrics from Belize. Maya flint knappers were making some of
the most wildly designed shapes of flint ever made anywhere in the
world. This one is made of Knife River
chert, a material that is found in North Dakota. |
If you're interested.
John does sell some of his points. His signed work, like a growing number
of other flint knappers in the country are becoming recognized as a unique
art form. People are beginning to collect modern-made pieces, and that's
something that was unheard of just a few years ago.
ECCENTRIC
BY JOHN KIERNAN
A wild eccentric with many points and concavities. |
If you want to write to
John W. Kiernan, his address is 111 Sky Court, Sheppard AFB, TX 76311.
GUNTHER POINT
BY JOHN KIERNAN
A beautiful and symmetrical Gunther point. |
|