Technology and Terminology of Knapped Stone - IRIT

Fig. 39 — Pressure-flaked bladelet-core, subsequently percussion-flaked, Capsian, Ai'n Dokkara, Algeria
(Tixier, 1976a: fig. 2, 2).
• Refits (figs. 36 and 40)
Refit diagrams are difficult to interpret and orthogonal views must be abandoned, as the
reader will have trouble bringing together several complex views in a three-dimensional space.
It is therefore best to limit the number of views by choosing a general view, which gives as much
information as possible. Starting from this general view one can pull out a couple of detail views,
which provide a better interpretation of the knapping sequence. Numbered arrows can be used to
show the order of flake removals. The three-dimensional shape of the refitted object is shown as
a unit rather than through drawing each component individually.
2. Layout convention s
Any description of an object, whatever it be, is based on its orientation (fig. 41). Whether
the edge is a left edge or a right edge depends on which way round the artefact is placed. As
research has progressed, a common graphical language has developed, specifying conventions
for the orientation of artefacts, which are not necessarily always logical. Consistent rules must
be used throughout a publication, and the rules should be stated.
There are five situations to be considered.
• Cores
Flake cores are oriented according to the debitage axis of the last flake removed (fig. 21).
If the last removal cannot be identified; the core is oriented according to its morphology.
Blade cores, whether flaked by percussion or by pressure, are oriented with the striking
platform upwards. When there are several striking platforms, the last-used platform is oriented
upwards (fig. 29 : 2).
• Unretouched or retouched debitage products
These include flakes (lato sensu) and tools on an unretouched flake (e.g. Levallois point).
They are oriented according to their debitage axis, proximal end downwards, and upper
face towards the viewer. The debitage axis is the straight line that defines the progression of the
fracture front across the lower face as the flake is detached. It starts from the impact point and
divides the bulb into two equal parts (fig. 41 : 1).
• Tools such as scrapers, piercers, burins, etc., whatever the type of blank used.
These artefacts are oriented with the supposed active part upwards (scraper edge, piercer
point, burin tip, etc.). If this orientation does not correspond with the debitage axis of the object,
the latter is indicated by a symbol on the upper face view (fig. 58 : 9).
• Shaped tools (bifacial pieces, preforms, trihedrons, polyhedrons, etc.).
These artefatcs are oriented according to their morphological axis (fig. 41 : 2, figs. 12
and 13), even if the original blank is a flake. The morphological axis is the axis of greatest
symmetry, in the sense of its greatest length (fig. 41:1).
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