Grading & Scoring

The Modern Flintknapping Grading system Overview.

In the Objective side of our grading system, we will include points derived from various measurements and mathematical formulas. The measurements will include, length, width, and diameter of blade. Since a longer wider thinner 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

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