Lithic Tools

The term "lithic" in archaeology is usually applied to chipped stone tools (usually made of flint). They are created by knocking off large flakes of stone with a hard hammerstone, and then using softer tools like antler and bone to chip away smaller flakes for a nice, sharp edge. Any number of tools can be made in this way - from scrapers to arrowheads to scythes. And as the stone does not degrade this makes lithic tools one of the most common finds in archaeology. Illustrations of these types of tools tend to focus on production: highlighting chipped edges, waves of percussion, and order of production. These illustrations help archaeologists determine how objects are made and what they may have been used for.