blade tool

prehistoric tool

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Last updated

July 16, 2026

Quick Summary

A blade tool is a prehistoric cutting implement characterized by long, thin slivers of rock with keen, unserrated edges. These tools were directly useful as knives or could be skillfully broken down to serve various purposes.1

Blade tools emerged during the Paleolithic Period, alongside core and flake tools. While core tools were the largest and most primitive, and flake tools were made from deliberately detached flakes, blade tools represented a refinement in cutting technology. They offered a more efficient cutting edge compared to earlier tools.12

The development of blade tools reflects a broader trend in early human history towards creating more specialized and effective implements from materials like flint and obsidian.12

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human evolution
Refinements in tool design
…by frequencies of reshaped flakes, blades, scrapers, hand axes, and other tools. Projectile points began to be emphasized in some regions, with bone being used as well as stone; bone arrow points dating to more than 60,000 years ago have been found at Sibudu Cave in South Africa.
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…by frequencies of reshaped flakes, blades, scrapers, hand axes, and other tools. Projectile points began to be emphasized in some regions, with bone being used as well as stone; bone arrow points dating to more than 60,000 years ago have been found at Sibudu Cave in South Africa.
Read More