Flint Knapping & Primitive Tool Workshop

Description:

In the Flint Knapping & Primitive Tool Workshop you will learn basic tool production. This workshop will guide you through all the stages of reducing a raw piece of stone in the way that has been proven to be the most effective way to produce the sharpest edge possible on stones. You will also learn how to properly use antler, stone, and bone tools to reduce raw stone into usable tools. The stone will be your teacher and we will be your translator. You may find the lessons learned are beyond mere flake removal.

When: July 18 & 19, 2026 - 9am- 5pm
Where: Ancestral Knowledge Museum & Research Center, Lanham MD
Ages: 18 and older
Registration Fee: $125-$225 Sliding Scale (pay what you're comfortable) (includes $25 tool use and materials fee)

You will learn the following skills during this program:

Pecking and grinding
Direct percussion
Several pressure flaking techniques
Proper biface reduction

Bill Kaczor - Executive Director/Co-founder 2007-Present

Bill is the Executive Director and a co-founder of Ancestral Knowledge. Bill has worked and studied intensively with the masters in the fields of; youth mentoring, naturalist studies, primitive technology and tracking. He has been teaching children and adults in these subjects since 1998 — Bill was a lead instructor at Children of the Earth Foundations- Coyote Tracks summer camps for 5 years, and two years as the assistant director. He has instructed students at the University of Maryland, Georgetown University, Rivercane & Falling Leaves Rendezvous, Mid-Atlantic Primitive Skills Gathering (MAPS Meet), Bill can often be found instructing at Tom Brown Jr.’s Tracker School teaching primitive traps, bow making, flint knapping, pottery and hide tanning. In 1999 after 11 years, Bill chose to leave his skateboard/snowboard business and dedicate his life to helping people connect with the Earth through ancient skills. Shortly afterwards, Bill designed and was granted an after school and summer program for the 21st Century Learning Community in Public School District 150 of Peoria, Illinois. This program was successful in that it led the children to a respect for nature, respect for themselves and others, self-discipline and adventure. Bill is a specialist in bow making, stone tool technologies, hide tanning, fire by friction and hunting and experienced in many more skills.

A letter from Tom Brown Jr