microlith
Sign in to saveA microlith is a small stone tool usually made of flint or chert and typically several centimeters in length and half a centimetre wide. They were made by humans from at least the Upper Paleolithic, across Africa, Europe, Asia and Australia. The microliths were used in spear points and arrowheads.
Wikidata facts
- Image
- Microlith in hand.jpg
Show 1 more fact
- Commons category
- Microliths
Sources (1)
via Wikidata · CC0
~20 min read
Article
19 sectionsContents
- Types
- Laminar and non-geometric microliths
- Truncated blade
- Backed edge blades
- Micro points
- Geometric microliths
- Microburin technique
- Weapons and tools
- Discoveries
- Australia
- France
- Scandinavia
- England
- India
- Sri Lanka
- Dating
- See also
- References
- External links
A microlith is a small stone tool usually made of flint or chert and typically several centimeters in length and half a centimetre wide. They were made by humans from at least the Upper Paleolithic, across Africa, Europe, Asia and Australia. The microliths were used in spear points and arrowheads.
Microliths are produced from either a small blade (microblade) or a larger blade-like piece of flint by abrupt or truncated retouching, which leaves a very typical piece of waste, called a microburin. The microliths themselves are sufficiently worked so as to be distinguishable from workshop waste or accidents.