Flint knapping demo to be featured at Grantsburg Senior Center

Submitted by Priscilla Bauer

GRANTSBURG – Ever find an arrowhead? Wonder how it was made? David Skrupky will be giving a presentation on the skill of flint knapping at the next Grantsburg Area Historical Society presentation at 1 p.m. at the Grantsburg Senior Center on Thursday, March 20.

A retired biologist and high school biology teacher, Skrupky has learned the process of turning rock into useable tools. “We usually think of Native American people making stone spearheads, knives, arrowheads, awls, axes and hammers,” noted Skrupky. “However, we know that all cultures around the world made these same tools.”

Skrupky said he became interested in stone tools when he began to find them in farm fields. “I became fascinated at how such tools were made.”

According to Skrupky’s bio, he first read about the flint knapping process and later met other knappers who helped him develop the skill to the point where he began to educate and teach others.

Skrupky, a lifelong Turtle Lake resident, has taught flint knapping and regularly demonstrates this ancient skill at rock shows, libraries, museums, state parks and to civic groups. His program also includes displays of some of the ancient artifacts he’s found.

You are invited to bring any old stone tools to Skrupky’s program for him to look over and determine how old they are along with providing any other information about them.

Lunch, by reservation, will be served at 11:45 a.m. with the GAHS presentation beginning at 1 p.m. Please call the Siren Senior Citizen Center at 715-349-2154 by noon Tuesday, March 18, for lunch reservations.

For those unable to make the lunch, please come to enjoy the free program at 1 p.m.