Microburin
Encyclopedia
A microburin is a characteristic waste product from manufacture of lithic tools, sometimes confused with an authentic burin
, which is characteristic of the Mesolithic
, but which has been recorded from the end of the Upper Paleolithic
until the Calcolithic. This type of lithic artifact was first named by Henri Breuil
who defined it as «a type of angular, smooth, with a terminal retouch in the form of a small notch». Breuil initially thought that the microburins had a functional use as a type of microlithic burin. However, he later came to realize that the manufacturing technique was different from that of the burin and that they could be waste products from the manufacture of microliths, but the may have occasionally been reused for a useful purpose.
A microburin is a fragment of a lithic flake
, or more precisely, of a lithic blade, that shows on its upper face the beginnings of a notch terminating in an oblique flection (whose surface can only be seen from the lower side) that ends in a very acute trihedral apex. As stated earlier, it was thought that microburins were functional microliths, but carving experiments, along with the reassembly of pieces with perfectly aligned edges have demonstrated that they were a characteristic waste of a technique called microburin technique
, or more correctly microburin blow technique. Following a study of thousands of microburins originating from a variety of
sahara
n sites Jacques Tixier
noted that none of the pieces showed traces of intentional use
, this finding confirms the finding of the analysis of european pieces.
Examples found in Europe can be seen on this page : http://www.archeobase.be/page_microburins_meso.html. They are related with Mesolithic hunters of the Walloon region
of Belgium
ap. 9,000 years ago.
There is also a particular type of microburin named after Krukowskithat is from a carving accident and not a waste byproduct.
Burin
Burin from the French burin meaning "cold chisel" has two specialised meanings for types of tools in English, one meaning a steel cutting tool which is the essential tool of engraving, and the other, in archaeology, meaning a special type of lithic flake with a chisel-like edge which was probably...
, which is characteristic of the Mesolithic
Mesolithic
The Mesolithic is an archaeological concept used to refer to certain groups of archaeological cultures defined as falling between the Paleolithic and the Neolithic....
, but which has been recorded from the end of the Upper Paleolithic
Upper Paleolithic
The Upper Paleolithic is the third and last subdivision of the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age as it is understood in Europe, Africa and Asia. Very broadly it dates to between 40,000 and 10,000 years ago, roughly coinciding with the appearance of behavioral modernity and before the advent of...
until the Calcolithic. This type of lithic artifact was first named by Henri Breuil
Henri Breuil
Henri Édouard Prosper Breuil , often referred to as Abbé Breuil, was a French Catholic priest, archaeologist, anthropologist, ethnologist and geologist...
who defined it as «a type of angular, smooth, with a terminal retouch in the form of a small notch». Breuil initially thought that the microburins had a functional use as a type of microlithic burin. However, he later came to realize that the manufacturing technique was different from that of the burin and that they could be waste products from the manufacture of microliths, but the may have occasionally been reused for a useful purpose.
A microburin is a fragment of a lithic flake
Lithic flake
In archaeology, a lithic flake is a "portion of rock removed from an objective piece by percussion or pressure," and may also be referred to as a chip or spall, or collectively as debitage. The objective piece, or the rock being reduced by the removal of flakes, is known as a core. Once the proper...
, or more precisely, of a lithic blade, that shows on its upper face the beginnings of a notch terminating in an oblique flection (whose surface can only be seen from the lower side) that ends in a very acute trihedral apex. As stated earlier, it was thought that microburins were functional microliths, but carving experiments, along with the reassembly of pieces with perfectly aligned edges have demonstrated that they were a characteristic waste of a technique called microburin technique
Microburin technique
The microburin technique is a special procedure for cutting up lithic blades which yields fragments that can be used in the manufacture of utensils. The usable fragments are basically geometric microliths. This technique has been recorded through the Old World, from at least the Mesolithic...
, or more correctly microburin blow technique. Following a study of thousands of microburins originating from a variety of
sahara
Sahara
The Sahara is the world's second largest desert, after Antarctica. At over , it covers most of Northern Africa, making it almost as large as Europe or the United States. The Sahara stretches from the Red Sea, including parts of the Mediterranean coasts, to the outskirts of the Atlantic Ocean...
n sites Jacques Tixier
Jacques Tixier
right|250px|thumb|Jacques TixierJacques Tixier was a French archaeologist and Prehistorian notable for his work on prehistory in Qatar and Lebanon. He led the first French archaeological mission to Qatar in 1976.-External Links:*...
noted that none of the pieces showed traces of intentional use
Lithic analysis
In archaeology, lithic analysis is the analysis of stone tools and other chipped stone artifacts using basic scientific techniques. At its most basic level, lithic analyses involve an analysis of the artifact’s morphology, the measurement of various physical attributes, and examining other visible...
, this finding confirms the finding of the analysis of european pieces.
Examples found in Europe can be seen on this page : http://www.archeobase.be/page_microburins_meso.html. They are related with Mesolithic hunters of the Walloon region
Walloon Region
The Walloon Region, commonly called Wallonia, is one of the three federal Regions of Belgium, and its capital is Namur. It comprises, as defined by Article 5 of the Constitution of Belgium, the provinces of Walloon Brabant, Hainaut, Liège, Luxembourg and Namur...
of Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
ap. 9,000 years ago.
There is also a particular type of microburin named after Krukowskithat is from a carving accident and not a waste byproduct.