PREFACE

Lithic Artifact Coding Guide: Cores, Debitage and Flaked ToolsAssembled by Cynthia HerhahnOffice of Contract Archeology, University of New MexicoNovember 2006Technological Type DescriptionsCode lithic_term Definition1AngularDebris No definable ventral surface2 Flake, nfs* Flake, *not further specified3Flake,BifacialThinningrecognized by retouched platform, parallel dorsal scars, lipped platforms, concave flakecurvature, even edge outline, weak bulb of percussion (Acklen et al 1984)4Flake,Sharpeninghas retouched platform with usewear on platform/dorsal surface interface. Be careful todistinguish use wear from platform preparation5 Flake, Bipolarrecognized by the absence of bulbs of percussion, flat bulbar aspects, rings of forceoriginating from proximal and distal ends, and crushing at both ends (Sliva 1997)6Flake fromGroundstone flake that has ground or polished dorsal surface7Flake fromHammerstone flake with battering on platform or dorsal surface8 Flake, Other describe in comments9 Tested Rock Objective piece with fewer than 4 flake scars10Core,Bidirectional two platforms not oriented opposite each other (Andrefsky 2005).11 Core, Bifacialcore with flakes originating from a single margin removed from two surfaces. Notshaped or flaked around their entire perimeter.12 Core, Bipolar core with flake scars showing rings of force from proximal and distal ends.13Core,Multiplatformcores with more than 2 platforms from which flakes are removed (Appendix 1 fromOCA-UNM 185-584). Irregular; may be exhausted14Core,Unidirectional Flakes removed from a single striking platform15Stage 1BifaceHas evidence of unretouched blank on both surfaces; flake scars with pronouncednegative bulbs; no thinning of either face.16Stage 2BifaceMost of original blank morphology has been removed; may have some cortex still;controlled reduction and thinning has not started; flake scars removed from both sides ofbiface; piece has oval or pear-shaped outline17Stage 3BifaceInitial thinning and regularization of margin has begun; may still have cortex; marginssomewhat irregular, sinuous; flake scars at least to center of biface. Width/thicknessratios 3.0-4.018Stage 4Bifacesecondary thinning of biface. Scars may be patterned and travel past center of surface.Grinding common on platforms. W:t >4.019Stage 5BifaceFinal shaping of biface before hafting or notching; exhibit marginal retouch to createsharp, regular, straight margins.20Stage 6Biface Finished bifacial tool with completed hafting elements or notching21 Uniface Artifacts exhibiting retouch scars over one-third or more of only one surface.22Manuport,cobbleNon-locally occurring rock with waterworn cortex but with no evidence of humanmodification23Manuport,mineralNon-locally occurring geological sample consisting of a relatively pure mineralcomposition (e.g., hematite, quartz crystal, limonite, galena, gypsum, calcite, etc.)lacking evidence of human modification6-29