He says it wouldn’t be authentic to have rock from another part of the country. Since most of Coyan’s works are Texas-style points, he likes to use the local West Texas agates and cherts but also uses materials from the Hill Country. Spearheading Coyan shares his art at living history events across the state Today flintknapping is undergoing a revival with the greatest number of practitioners in the US where the craft is most strongly associated with Native Americans some of the last people to use stone tools | Courtesy Museum of the Big Bend Visitors to these events can observe him working and talk with him some are lucky enough to purchase one of his arrowheads as a souvenir. Now living in Sanderson, he’s shared the art of flintknapping at living history events at Fort Chadbourne, Fort Lancaster, Fort McKavett and Fort Stockton. Since that first exhibition, Coyan has been asked to participate in a variety of events. He quickly arrived at some prices and sold two of his pieces that day. With several of his pieces on display, a gentleman approached him and asked, “How much are you selling these pieces for?” Coyan remembers thinking, “Wait, I can make money at this?” It had never occurred to him that his hobby could produce income. Obsidian is translucent black sometimes with a golden sheen. While in graduate school at the University of Texas at San Antonio, Coyan was asked to do a presentation on flintknapping. Add a powerful and protective boost to your mineral collection with an Obsidian Arrowhead. (Modern flintknappers are advised to wear hand and eye protection as well as dust masks.) He met a flintknapper who had a new method of knapping that was easier and safer, and he continued to hone his talent. However, flintknapping can also be quite dangerous, and he learned from experience that cuts are common and can be severe. He found it relaxing and enjoyed creating pieces of art. ![]() While in San Marcos, Coyan began experimenting with flintknapping. “That’s when I decided,” he recalls, “that I wanted to be a flintknapper.”įollowing high school graduation, Coyan studied archeology, but, he says, “I was told I’d have to stop picking up the artifacts I found.” Coyan attended Angelo State University in San Angelo for two years before transferring to Southwest State University in San Marcos. Attending second grade in Kerrville, Coyan recalls a particular “history day”when a local jeweler did a show-and-tell presentation on flintknapping. The process of chipping away and shaping flint, chert, obsidian or other silica-based stones to create sharp points or tools is known as flintknapping.Īs a youngster, Coyan hunted for arrowheads with his stepfather and grandfather. Modern-day flintknappers continue this age-old craft. Kinley Coyan is known as a father, a rancher and a flintknapper - more specifically, the Big Bend Flintknapper.įor more than 10,000 years, the indigenous peoples of North America created countless stone tools and weapons such as spear and dart points, arrowheads, knives, scrapers and blades. This item: Obsidian Arrowhead, Obsidian Blade, Black Obsidian Decor, 6 Inch (Wide Cut) 15.99.
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