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How did pressure flaking help make sharper stone tools?
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Stone Age
Stone tool flaked on one surface only, known as a uniface blade, and three end scrapers.
In the context of the Stone Age, pressure flaking was an advanced, precise technique used to refine stone tools. Unlike percussion methods that rely on striking a stone with a hammer, pressure flaking involves using a pointed instrument made of bone, antler, or wood to pry off tiny flakes from the edge of a tool.12
This method helped create sharper tools by providing the craftsperson with the ultimate level of control over the material. By removing these minute flakes, the maker could:2
- Refine the edge: It allowed for the removal of material in very small, controlled increments, which reduced coarse or jagged edges into smaller, more uniform serrations.12
- Improve geometry: The technique enabled the creation of a straighter, more uniform cutting edge with a more acute angle, which significantly increased the sharpness of the implement.2
- Final shaping: It was primarily used to apply the finishing touches to a tool or to achieve a specific, desired shape after the initial form had been roughed out using percussion.1