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The Modern Flintknapping Grading system
Overview.
In the Objective
side of our grading system, we will include points derived from
various measurements and mathmethical formulas. The measurements will
include, length, width, and diameter of blade. Since a longer wider thiner
piece involves more skill to produce, these qualities will get more
points. There are four formulas to this part of the grading system. They
are as follows:
1. Overall total length of
piece.
2. Length X Width
3. Width divided by diameter to create a
width/thinness ratio.
4. Length divided by diameter
to create a length/thinness ratio
There are subjective measurements that come into the
discussion when flintknapping work is scored also, these are discussed in
a later page
.
Scoring by using average width to
thickness ratio:
I think a more equitable way of measuring pieces is to
use an average W/T ratio. This is really only necessary on your
higher ratio pieces, ones that are at least 10/1 or higher. I think
this gives a more equitable grading of the entire piece and will
increase the score of a piece that is thinner throughout the blade.
It is disappointing to see an otherwise thin blade, get deducted
down due to one small thicker spot. Although, this calculation still
takes the thickest point into consideration, it doesn't destroy your
W/T ratio. It takes into account a wider blade which holds that
width over a longer distance, which requires more skill to
accomplish. It takes into account the thinnest point, where the
knapper risked breaking the blade to remove a hinge, removed a very
thick flake, or was able to bring two descending flakes from
opposite edges. When trying to perform any of these task the knapper
runs the risk of breaking the blade.
Although, i realize
there are different opinions on this subject, so on most percussion
pieces i will list the "Standard Score" using the standard method of
the widest and thickest points and the "Average Score" using the
averaging method of thickness.
The following information explains the calculations used to
figure an average W/T ratio. The same average diameter can also be
used to find the average L/T ratio.
The diameter(thickness) of the piece will be measured at 1
inch intervals starting at one end and taken down the center of the
piece.(the last measurement must be a least 1 inch from the end of
the blade) Then a diameter measurement will also be taken at both
the thinnest point(must be within 1/2 inch of the center line and 1
inch from either end of blade) and thickest point from any where on
the piece.
If any of the 1 inch interval measurements happen to hit at the
thinnest or thickest point, then that measurement counts for the
thinness or thickest point measure and can not be used again in the
calculation.
Example:
A 6 inch long piece will include 5 interval measurement points
when taken at every 1 inch along with two other measures
of thinnest and thickest point.
All 5 of the 1 inch interval measurements were 3/16
or .1875 inches.
The thinnest point is 3/32 or .09 inches.
The thickest point is 7/32 or .219 inches.
Add all measurements together and divide by total number of
measurements taken.
.1875 X 5=.94+ .09 + .219=1.25
1.25/7=.18
If using the same size piece, but the thinnest point happened
to hit and be included in one of the 1 inch interval measurements
you would have one less measure, or 6, and would be as the
following:
.1875 X 4=.75 + .09=
.84+.219=1.06 1.06/6=.18
If using the same size piece, but the thickest point happened
to hit and be included in the 1 inch interval measures you
would still have 6 measurements and would be as the
following:
.1875 X 4=.75 +.219=.97 + .09=1.06
1.06/6=.18
So as you can see, either calculation comes out to be exactly
the same. So by not using the thinnest or thickest measurements
twice in the same calculations, as we have done, is an
equitable way of doing it.
When figuring the average width, you will measure the
width once again at the same 1 inch intervals, then calculate the
average.
Example--6 inch piece would include 5 measurements, 1.5, 2,
2.69,2,1.5 inches respectively at each 1 inch interval.
1.5+2+2.69+2+1.5=9.69
9.69/5=1.94 average width
Then take average width divided by average thickness:
1.94/.18=10.8/1
Average W/T ratio would be
10.8/1 | 