Levalloisian stone-flaking technique

Levalloisian stone-flaking technique

      toolmaking technique of prehistoric Europe and Africa, characterized by the production of large flakes (flake tool) from a tortoise core (prepared core shaped much like an inverted tortoise shell). Such flakes, seldom further trimmed, were flat on one side, had sharp cutting edges, and are believed to have been used as skinning knives. Sometimes the butts of Levalloisian flakes were trimmed in a way that suggests hafting onto a handle. The Levalloisian technique gradually replaced the Acheulian in much of Europe during the Third Interglacial period and continued into the Fourth Glacial period. In Africa the prepared core technique had a long history of development in association with the Acheulian industry. The Levalloisian technique was often and widely employed for flake production in Mousterian industries (Mousterian industry) in Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa, as well as in other industries (e.g., Stillbay) in sub-Saharan Africa during the late Pleistocene epoch.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Stone Age — the period in the history of humankind, preceding the Bronze Age and the Iron Age, and marked by the use of stone implements and weapons: subdivided into the Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic periods. [1860 65] * * * First known period of… …   Universalium

  • Acheulean industry — Stone tool industry of the Lower Paleolithic Period characterized by bifacial stone tools with round cutting edges and typified especially by an almond shaped (amygdaloid) flint hand ax measuring 8–10 in. (20–25 cm) in length and flaked over its… …   Universalium

  • hand tool — any tool or implement designed for manual operation. * * * Introduction  any of the implements used by craftsmen in manual operations, such as chopping, chiseling, sawing, filing, or forging. Complementary tools, often needed as auxiliaries to… …   Universalium

  • North Africa — North African. the northern part of Africa, esp. the region north of the tropical rain forest and comprised of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and that part of Egypt west of the Gulf of Suez. * * * Introduction       region of Africa comprising …   Universalium

  • Aterian industry — ▪ archaeology       stone tool tradition of the Middle and Late Paleolithic, found widespread in the late Pleistocene throughout northern Africa. The Aterian people were among the first to use the bow and arrow. Aterian stone tools are an… …   Universalium

  • Fauresmith industry — ▪ prehistoric toolmaking       a sub Saharan African stone tool industry dating from the early part of the upper Pleistocene, about 75,000 to 100,000 years ago. The Fauresmith industry is largely contemporaneous with the Sangoan industry (q.v.),… …   Universalium

  • Low Countries, history of — Introduction       history of the Low Countries from prehistoric times to 1579.       For historical purposes, the name Low Countries is generally understood to include the territory of what is today The Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, as… …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”