Microburin technique

The microburin technique is a special procedure for cutting up lithic blades which yields fragments that can be used in the manufacture of utensils.

It has also been recorded from the later phases of the Upper Paleolithic, as triangular and trapeze shaped microliths have been found from the end of the French Magdalenian although they are very rare.

The technique consists of taking a blade (a flake can also be used) and placing its upper end against a support with a sharp edge (as occurs in the use of an anvil).

It is thought that the microburin blow technique was born from the repetition of an accident that occurs when forming laminar microliths.

This double trihedral apex can then be used to form geometric microliths (triangles, trapezes or lunate-shaped) following abrupt retouching of both worked edges.