Uniface

Uniface

In archeology, a uniface is a specific type of stone tool that has been flaked on one surface only. Such tools can be placed into two general classes: 1) modified flakes and 2) formalized tools, which display deliberate, systematic modification of the marginal edges and were often formed with a definite purpose in mind.

Modified flakes

While many worked stone tools can be technically designated as "modified flakes," for lithic analysis purposes a modified flake is usually defined as a lithic flake with one or more edges that were altered either through opportunistic use or through nonsystematic retouching; it is often difficult to tell from naked-eye examination which process produced the observed edge. Opportunistic use occurs when a sharp flake is used as-is, without edge-modification. Nonsystematic retouching occurs when pressure flaking is used to remove a few trimming flakes from the edge, in no discernible or extensive pattern.

Formalized uniface tools

Some unifaces are characterized by systematic edge retouch, which was used to thin, straighten, sharpen, and smooth an artifact's edge, and were usually created with a specific purpose in mind. These formalized unifaces were often intended for woodworking, cutting, chopping, or hide-working purposes, and generally fall into easily classifiable types. While the following discussion does not cover some specialized types of unifaces, it does include the most common types.

Scrapers are unifacial tools that may were used either for hideworking or woodworking purposes. Whereas this term is often used for any unifacially flaked tool that defies classification, most lithic analysts maintain that the only true scrapers are defined on the base of use-wear, and usually are those which were worked at their distal ends -- i.e., "end scrapers." Other scrapers include the so-called "side scrapers." Most scrapers are either oval or blade-like in shape. The working edges of scrapers tend to be convex, and many have trimmed and dulled lateral edges to facilitate hafting. One important variety of scraper is the thumbnail scraper, a scraper shaped much like its namesake. This scraper type is common at Paleo-Indian sites.

Gouges (or adzes) may be either bifacial or unifacial, and are defined as tools with chisel-like working edges that were used for woodworking purposes; they may also have been used to remove marrow from bones. Gouges are generally triangular in shape, with the working edge -- characteristically steep-angled -- appearing at the wide base of the triangle. The opposite edge, at the point of the triangle, was the hafted end; the tool itself was generally hafted at right angles to the handle.

Denticulate tools display edges that are worked into a multiply notched shape, much like the toothed edge of a saw. Indeed, these tools might have been used as saws, more likely for meat processing than for wood. It is possible, however, that some or all of these notches were used for smoothing wooden shafts or for similar purposes.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Uniface — ist eine Plattform für die Entwicklung und den Betrieb von unternehmensweiten Anwendungen, die auf einer Vielzahl von Laufzeitumgebungen ausgeführt werden können, einschließlich mobilen Geräten, Mainframes, Web, Service orientierte Architektur… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Uniface — est une plate forme de développement et de déploiement pour les applications d entreprise. Uniface fonctionne dans une large gamme de systèmes d’exploitation : mobile, mainframe, web, SOA, Windows, J2EE et NET. Les applications Uniface sont… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • UNIFACE — est un Atelier de génie logiciel (AGL) dont les développements sont réalisés en langage Uniface. L originalité du produit est de stocker toutes les sources dans une base de données nommée référentiel . Ce référentiel est accessible par l ensemble …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Uniface (programming language) — Uniface is a 4GL RDBMS Rapid Application Development (RAD) environment owned and maintained now by Compuware. Originally know as UNIFACE, the product was developed in Amsterdam by Inside Automation, which later changed its name to Uniface; in the …   Wikipedia

  • uniface ou unifacial, unifaciale, unifaciaux — ● uniface ou unifacial, unifaciale, unifaciaux adjectif Se dit d un outil préhistorique taillé sur un seul côté …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Uniface (numismatics) — A uniface is a reference to a one sided Coin or Banknote, usually issued in low denomination, in times of war or in the early evolution of coins and banknotes; other examples are made as trial strikes of dies …   Wikipedia

  • uniface — /yooh neuh fays /, n. Numis. a coin or medal having a blank reverse. [1875 80; UNI + FACE] * * * …   Universalium

  • uniface — noun A prehistoric stone tool that has been flaked on one surface only …   Wiktionary

  • uniface — (entrée créée par le supplément) (u ni fa s ) adj. Qui n a qu une face. Les bractéates sont des monnaies unifaces. •   La première série comprend les sceaux unifaces à légende hébraïque ; la seconde, les sceaux à double face, FERD. DELAUNAY Journ …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • uniface — adjective (of a coin or medallion) having one side blank …   English new terms dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”