Flake Tool

In archaeology a flake tool is a type of stone tool created by striking a flake from a prepared stone core. Flake tools can also be sharpened by retouch to create scrapers or burins. Flake tools are created through flint knapping, a process of producing stone tools using lithic reduction. Lithic reduction is the removal of a lithic flake from a larger stone in order to reach the desired tool shape and size. The beginning stone is called the flake lithic core. There are three steps to lithic reduction:

1. Hard hammer percussion is the first step. It involves knocking off the larger flakes to achieve the desired lithic core for the flake tool.
2. Soft hammer percussion is the second step. It involves using a hammer made of bone in order to known off flakes from the lithic core. It allows the user more control over the size and shape of the flakes knocked off.
3. Pressure flaking is the final step. It involves using a copper punch in order ot have more control of the flakes knocked off of the lithic core. One simply uses pressure to achieve the final flake tool.