Lithic Analysis in Archaeology

fracture mechanics

the physics of how materials break

nodule

Unworked pieces of stone;

the raw material for making stone tools.

core

The stone from which other pieces

or flakes are removed. Core tools are shaped by the removal of flakes.

cryptocrystalline

Stone (such as quartz, chert, and flint) with microscopic crystals, formed from silica under pressure in marine deposits.

conchoidal fracture

Shell-like shape of the interior surface of a flake; the breakage pattern seen in flaking stone tools.

Hertzian xone

Name for the bulb of force produced in the fracture of cryptocrystalline materials.

flake

A type of stone artifact produced by removing a piece from a core by chipping or knapping. Flakes are made into a variety of different kinds of tools or used for their sharp edges (without further retouching)

striking platform

The flat surface of a core where a blow is struck to remove flake, visible at the top of the flake.

dorsal surface

The outer surface of a flake.

bulbar surface

The inner, fresh surface of a flake. Also known as ventral surface.

surface sites

Sites that are visible on the surface of the ground.

bulb of percussion

A partial cone of fracture that is seen on the inner surface of flakes as a slightly rounded protrusion or bulb.

knapping

Intentionally removing a series of flakes, working stone. Also known as flakin

lithics

A generic term used for stone artifacts in archaeology and more specifically for flaked stone artifacts

percussion flaking

A technique for producing stone artifacts by striking or knapping crystalline stone with a hard or soft hammer

pressure flaking

A technique for producing stone artifacts by removing flakes from a stone core by pressing with a pointed implement

hard hammer technique

A percussion technique for making stone tools by striking one stone, or core, with another stone or hammer

hammerstone

A stone used to knock flakes from cores; part of the toolkit of a flintknapper

soft hammer technique

A flintknapping technique that involves the use of a hammer of bone, antler, or wood, rather than stone

hammer-and-anvil

A hard hammer percussion technique which involves striking the core (hammer) itself against a large rock in the ground (anvil) to produce a flake

flintknapping

Chipping or flaking stone to make tools and other artifacts

tools

Any equipment, weapon, object intentionally modified by humans to change the environment around them

waste

Pottery that has broken or warped in the process of firing

debitage

A term referring to all the pieces of shatter and flakes produced and not used when stone tools are made

punch

A piece of antler, bone, or wood used as a pointed object between the hammer and the core to assist the removal of the flake;

a kind of chisel for flintknapping

blades

A special kind of elongated flake

with two parallel sides and a length at least twice the width of the piece. The regular manufacture of blades characterized the Upper Paleolithic, with an efficient way of producing mass quantities of cutting edge

retouching

The shaping or sharpening of stone artifacts through percussion or pressure flaking; a technique of flintknapping

preform

A basic piece or blank form used to make a specific kind of finished product. The term is used in lithic studies to describe early stages in manufacture of certain kinds of tools, such as projectile points. Also known as blank

refitting

A technique for reassembling the scattered pieces of stone, pottery, or bone at an archaeological site to study patterns of manufacture and disposal

microwear analysis

Microscopic studies of damage and polish on the edges of stone artifacts to reveal the materials that were worked

lithic assemblage

The complete set of stone artifacts found at an archaeological site

type list

handaxe

The characteristic artifact of the Paleolithic: a large, teardrop-shaped stone tool bifacially flaked to a point at one end and a broader base at the other, for general- purpose use.

bifacial

A term describing a flaked stone tool in which both faces or sides are retouched to make a thinner tool

unifacial

A term describing a flaked stone tool in which only one face or side is retouched to make a sharp edge

burin

A distinctively edged stone tool combining a 90-degree edge and an oblique angled working edge

chaine operatoire

The different stages of production, from the acquisition of raw material to the final abandonment of the desired and/or used objects

curated tools

Special-purpose implements that require specific raw materials and substantial time and labor to manufacture. Curated tools can often be repaired or recycled and are normally discarded only when exhausted

expedient tools

Implements that are quickly made, used, and discarded. The technology is fairly simple and production fairly rapid. The use of these tools is more general purpose, and they are discarded immediately after use

chert

A cryptocrystalline quartz with large crystal size and impurities that give it color and cloudiness

flint

A hard siliceous stone that breaks in predictable ways to produce sharp flakes; a common raw material for stone tools in prehistory