knapping fragment

A knapping fragment a product of the knapping process which has identifiable negative scars and is irregular in shape. The distinguishing feature is that it is impossible to determine the final plane of detachment from the core (i.e. its ventral surface). Terms such as splinter or chunk are also used to describe this artifact, however, as these are general descriptions, and are used in other connections, their use is not recommended.
 
A knapping fragment is not a section of an artifact, such as a flake, which still has an identifiable dorsal and ventral surface even when it is incomplete or fragmentary. This would be called a broken flake as opposed to a knapping fragment.

platform rejuvenation flake

A platform rejuvenation tablet (or core rejuvenation flake) is the result of the process by which the exhausted or ruined core platform would be removed as a tabular flake thereby establishing a new platform (Crabtree 1982,, 50). (Also see Owen 1982, 219). The removals around part or all of the edge of these artifacts often causes them to be mistaken for scrapers. It should be noted that the origin of these abrupt negative scars is from the dorsal surface and has been executed before the piece was removed from the core.

flake from a polished axe

A flake from a polished axe is a flake which has retained a portion of the surface of an intentionally polished tool on part or all of its dorsal surface. These flakes can be the result of damage to a polished axe or can occur from the reduction of the damaged tool (for example, when it is used as a core to extract the remaining usable raw material). When examining flakes detached from a polished tool it is imperative to check that the polish is intentional (i.e. smooth, flat, and with characteristic polish striations) and is not simply the gloss from agents such as plant deposits or the natural weathered outer surfaces of the raw material.

These forms of gloss are distinguishable in that the supposed ´polish´ often fills surface concavities (something that is not possible with intentional polish).

Parts of debitage

debitage parts
Parts are broken or fragmentary flakes and blades which can be classified into three parts: the proximal part, medial part (or middle) and distal part sections.

The proximal part is the proximal end of a flake or a blade and is the section containing the bulbar end of the fragment, or the part that received the blow which detached it from the core. This often includes all or parts of the butt, bulb of percussion and the initial lines of force or ripples radiating from the point of impact.

The medial part is the medial, or middle, section of a flake or a blade can be in many fragments or parts. These fragments can be oriented by identifying the direction of percussion by the lines of force, or the ripples, and the fissures on the ventral surface.​ ​
The distal part is the distal portion of a flake or blade is opposite to the proximal, or bulbar section, and is the end of a piece. It can terminate in a number of ways (see feathering, step and snap fracture, hinge and plunge). It is possible to correctly orient these fragments from the ventral surface by identifying the direction of percussion, by the lines of force, or ripples and by the fissures.

nomenclature of debitage parts