Early India and Pakistan to Ashoka c6.s1.28

c6.s1.28

2. *Flake-implements*. Two main series (with many varieties) have been recognized. The first is comparable with the Clactonian of Essex, in that the flake is struck off an unprepared block by means of a hammer or by striking a fixed anvil ('block-on-block' technique); the striking-platform of the flake shows no preparatory working and is set at a wide angle (110-125 degrees) from the ventral side of the flake, and there is a large semi-cone of percussion where the formative blow was struck. The second series approaches the French Levallois technique whereby a domical or 'tortoise' core is first trimmed by the removal of a series of small flakes from the stone block; then a large flake is detached sometimes by a blow on a small flat surface prepared at right-angles to the surface of the core. The detached flake shows converging flaking or fluting on the upper side and a flat primary surface on the under side, and is generally usable as a knife or scraper or spearhead without further trimming, though it may on occasion be submitted to some secondary working.