Microburin technique
Encyclopedia
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 microlith
s. This technique has been recorded through the Old World
, from at least the Mesolithic
. It has also been recorded from the later phases of the Upper Paleolithic
, as triangular and trapeze shaped microliths have been found from the end of the French Magdalenian
although they are very rare. The microburin blow technique has not been found, at present, in the New World
.
The technique consists of taking a blade (a flake
can also be used) and placing its upper end against a support with a sharp edge (as occurs in the use of an anvil
). A notch is then made and enlarged using light blows or by pressing the edge of the piece against the angled edge of the support. The notch is enlarged until the lithic blade snaps with a gentle but positive action (flection).
If the technique is carried out effectively, the break should be oblique to the axis of the blade and near to its proximal zone, giving two different pieces: which are called respectively the proximal microburin
, which is the smaller of the two pieces and which retains the heel and conchoidal flakes from the original piece; and the trihedral apex, that is the larger part of the blade. The flexion break is also slightly curved and oblique to the faces of the blade: the plane of the break is curved such that it can be seen in the upper face of the trihedral apex and its negative can be seen in the lower face of the microburin.
This «double trihedral apex» can then be used to form geometric microliths (triangles, trapezes or lunate-shaped) following abrupt retouching of both worked edges. Often the retouching does not cover the whole edge and it is possible to see part of the fracture plain on these microliths. This has allow us to reconstruct with a great deal of certainty the actions of the artisans who made these microliths
The same microburin blow technique can be used to form other types of non-geometric microliths, such as, for example, the Tardenois tips
.
Microlith
A microlith is a small stone tool usually made of flint or chert and typically a centimetre or so in length and half a centimetre wide. It is produced from either a small blade or a larger blade-like piece of flint by abrupt or truncated retouching, which leaves a very typical piece of waste,...
s. This technique has been recorded through the Old World
Old World
The Old World consists of those parts of the world known to classical antiquity and the European Middle Ages. It is used in the context of, and contrast with, the "New World" ....
, from at least 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....
. It has also been recorded from the later phases 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...
, as triangular and trapeze shaped microliths have been found from the end of the French Magdalenian
Magdalenian
The Magdalenian , refers to one of the later cultures of the Upper Paleolithic in western Europe, dating from around 17,000 BP to 9,000 BP...
although they are very rare. The microburin blow technique has not been found, at present, in the New World
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
.
The technique consists of taking a blade (a 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...
can also be used) and placing its upper end against a support with a sharp edge (as occurs in the use of an anvil
Anvil
An anvil is a basic tool, a block with a hard surface on which another object is struck. The inertia of the anvil allows the energy of the striking tool to be transferred to the work piece. In most cases the anvil is used as a forging tool...
). A notch is then made and enlarged using light blows or by pressing the edge of the piece against the angled edge of the support. The notch is enlarged until the lithic blade snaps with a gentle but positive action (flection).
If the technique is carried out effectively, the break should be oblique to the axis of the blade and near to its proximal zone, giving two different pieces: which are called respectively the proximal microburin
Microburin
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...
, which is the smaller of the two pieces and which retains the heel and conchoidal flakes from the original piece; and the trihedral apex, that is the larger part of the blade. The flexion break is also slightly curved and oblique to the faces of the blade: the plane of the break is curved such that it can be seen in the upper face of the trihedral apex and its negative can be seen in the lower face of the microburin.
This «double trihedral apex» can then be used to form geometric microliths (triangles, trapezes or lunate-shaped) following abrupt retouching of both worked edges. Often the retouching does not cover the whole edge and it is possible to see part of the fracture plain on these microliths. This has allow us to reconstruct with a great deal of certainty the actions of the artisans who made these microliths
The same microburin blow technique can be used to form other types of non-geometric microliths, such as, for example, the Tardenois tips
Tardenoisian
The Tardenoisian is an archaeological culture of the Epipaleolithic period from north-western France and Belgium. Similar cultures are known further east in central Europe and west across Spain....
.