Description

The knife and tools in this collection were hand flaked by Russell using traditional methods. Pieces of the stone are flaked by striking a large pebble with another stone
to chip off pieces or flakes. Many are produced out of a good piece of stone and Russell is finally left with a core or remnant of the flaking. The core is usually discarded.

The flakes are then sorted through and the best are then given secondary shaping by pressure flaking. This is done by pressing a hardened stick or a piece of bone or possum or kangaroo tooth mounted on a stick with sinew against the edge of the flake. This requires some skill and the serrations produced create an effective cutting edge.

The materials used are hard rocks that cleave well and include obsidian, chert, quartz and flint. The glass and ceramic spear points have also been made using traditional methods. Both materials were highly prized and eagerly collected by Aboriginal peoples after European occupation.