An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c21.s15.3

v1.c21.s15.3

The stone hammer and soft hammer techniques were also employed extensively during the succeeding Middle Palaeolithic [4.3] phase for the production of flakes. Another technique, already known to some of the Lower Palaeolithic groups and widely used during this phase, is the prepared core or Levallois technique. In this case the dorsal surface of the flake is prepared on the core itself by way of removing a series of centrally directed flakes; the flake is then detached by a blow with a soft hammer. The flakes so produced are generally regular in shape and bear sharp edges. The flake-blanks obtained by these techniques are shaped into scrapers of various types, points and borers by means of edge-retouch executed with a pointed object of bone or wood.