Platter Splits

[uniface]

When a platter biface became too thin to yield substantial flakes it could be split into halves, each of which could be made into points. When this operation didn't go according to plan, however, and high quality material (in this case, Edwards Plateau chert in Texas) was abundant, there was no need to recycle the failures (another example of profligate behavior), providing us with more lithic snapshots of the reduction process.

Notice how the splitting blow was delivered to the edge : it starts at a low angle but rotates to 90 degrees quickly.

 

[uniface]

An example from Kentucky -- Paoli Chert. Twisting removal flake is key.

 

[gilmerman]

Very nice explanation, and example. Nice, thanks.