The Organization of Chipped-Stone Economies at Piedras Negras ...

describes the technology and morphology of these artifacts. Furthermore, most of the
ventral surface of the original flake-blank remains, suggesting that this “flat” surface was
essential to the function and morphology of the tool. The ventral surface probably was
retained to maintain an acute angle close to the ventral surface, where resharpening could
easily be executed. The percussion scars on the dorsal side of the flake-blank were
completely removed by percussion, perhaps to maintain a curved working bit. Most of
these tool forms are referred to as adzes in published works (see Andrews and Rovner
1973). The working bit was sometimes polished (e.g., the medium celtiform uniface;
Figure 5.2, #12). The medium-sized versions of this form seem to have had their own
production trajectory. At other times, however, what appear to be medium celtiform
unifaces were actually the product of the resharpening of large-biface fragments. These
pieces are made using direct, hard-hammer percussion, and with coarse-to-medium grade
cherts.
5.4.1.1.4: Large, tranchet celtiform biface (see Figure 5.2 #4). This type was
manufactured by direct percussion (see Shafer and Hester 1983 for a detailed
description of the reduction process). They are at least 12 cm long, and are wider at the
distal end of the tool than the proximal. The sharp, distal bit of the tool was made by
laterally removing a long, curved flake from the biface preform. A razor-like bit was a
desired result of the reduction process.
Tranchet technology is what defines this type, which is only found in the eastern
area of the Maya Lowlands, especially in northern Belize, during the Preclassic period.
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