Editing Microlith (section)

===Laminar and non-geometric microliths===
Laminar microliths date from at least the [[Gravettian]] culture or possibly the start of the [[Upper Paleolithic]] era, and they are found all through the [[Mesolithic]] and [[Neolithic]] eras. [["Noailles" burin]]s and micro-gravettes {{See below|{{section link||Micro points}}, below}} indicate that the production of microliths had already started in the [[Gravettian]] culture.<ref>{{Cite book
| author = Piel-Desruisseaux, Jean-Luc
| title = Outils préhistoriques. Forme. Fabrication. Utilisation.
| year = 1986
| publisher = Masson
|location=Paris
| isbn = 2-225-80847-3
|pages =147–149
}} </ref>
This style of flint working flourished during the [[Magdalenian]] period and persisted in numerous Epipaleolithic traditions all around the Mediterranean basin. These microliths are slightly larger than the geometric microliths that followed and were made from the flakes of flint obtained ''ad hoc'' from a small nucleus or from a depleted nucleus of flint. They were produced either by percussion or by the application of a variable pressure (although pressure is the best option, this method of producing microliths is complicated and was not the most commonly used technique).<ref>{{cite book
| author = Pelegrin, Jacques
| title = Débitage expérimental par pression. Du plus petit au plus grand
| year = 1988
| publisher = Technologie préhistorique.
| volume = Journée d'études technologiques en Préhistoire
| number = Notes et monographies techniques, nº 25
| isbn = 2-222-04235-6
| pages =37–53
}} </ref>

====Truncated blade====
There are three basic types of laminar microlith. The truncated blade type can be divided into a number of sub-types depending on the position of the truncation (for example, oblique, square or double) and according to its form, for example, concave or convex. "Raclette scrapers" are notable for their particular form, being blades or flakes whose edges have been sharply retouched until they are semicircular or even shapeless. Raclettes are indefinite cultural indicators, as they appear from the Upper Paleolithic through to the Neolithic.

<gallery>
Image:Hojita de Fresno de la Ribera.png|Flint blade
Image:Microlame 0.225.4.jpg|Truncated bladelet
Image:Microlame 0.225.1.jpg|Backed edge bladelet
Image:Flechette Gavaudun 231-3 (3).jpg|Dufour bladelet
</gallery>

====Backed edge blades====
Backed edge blades have one of the edges, generally a side one, rounded or chamfered by abrupt retouching. There are fewer types of these blades, and may be divided into those where the entire edge is rounded and those where only a part is rounded, or even straight. They are fundamental in the blade-forming processes, and from them, innumerable other types were developed.<ref name="fortea80-103">{{Cite book
|author1=Fortea Pérez |author2=Francisco Javier | title =  Los complejos microlaminares y geométricos del Epipaleolítico mediterráneo español
| year = 1973
| publisher = [[Universidad de Salamanca]]
| isbn = 84-600-5678-3
}}</ref> Dufour bladelets are up to three centimeters in length, finely shaped with a curved profile whose retouches are semi-abrupt and which characterize a particular phase of the [[Aurignacian]] period. Solutrean backed edge blades display pronounced and abrupt retouching, so that they are long and narrow and, although rare, characterize certain phases of the Solutrean period. Ouchtata bladelets are similar to the others, except that the retouched back is not uniform but irregular; this type of microlith characterizes certain periods of the [[Epipaleolithic]] [[Sahrawi people|Saharan]]s. The [[Ibero-Maurusian]] and the Montbani bladelet, with a partial and irregular lateral retouching, is characteristic of the Italian [[Tardenoisian]].<ref>{{Cite book
| author = Brézillon, Michel
| title = La dénomination des objets de pierre taillée
| year = 1971
| publisher = [[París]]: Editions du CNRS
| pages= 263&ndash;267
}}</ref>

====Micro points====
These are very sharp bladelets formed by abrupt retouching. There are a huge number of regional varieties of these microliths, nearly all of which are very hard to distinguish (especially those from the western area) without knowing the archaeological context in which they appear. The following is a small selection. Omitted are the foliaceous tips (also called leafed tips), which are characterized by a covering retouch and which constitute a group apart.<ref>{{Cite book
| author = Brézillon, Michel
| title = La dénomination des objets de pierre taillée
| year = 1971
| publisher = [[París]]: Editions du CNRS
| pages =292&ndash;340
}}</ref>
*The ''[[Châtelperronian|Châtelperrón]] point'' is not a true microlith, although it is close to the required dimensions. Its antiquity and its short, curved blade edge make it the antecedent of many laminar microliths.
*The ''[[gravettian|Micro-gravette]]'' or ''Gravette micro point'' is a microlith version of the ''Gravette point'' and is a narrow bladelet with an abrupt retouch, which gives it a characteristically sharp edge when compared to other types.
*The ''[[Azilian]] point'' links the [[Magdalenian]] microlith points with those from the western [[Epipaleolithic]]. They can be identified by a rough and invasive retouching.
*The ''[[Ahrensburgian]] point'' is also a ''peripheral paleolithic'' or western Epipaleolithic piece, but with a more specific morphology, as it is formed on a blade (not on a bladelet), is obliquely truncated and has a small tongue that possibly served as a haft on a spear point.

The next group contains a number of points from the [[Middle East]] characterized as cultural markers.
*The [[Emireh point]] from the [[Upper Paleolithic]] is almost the same as one found in Châtelperrón, which is likely to be contemporary, although they are slightly shorter and also appear to be fashioned from a blade and not a bladelet.
*The ''El-Wad point'' is from the end of the Upper Paleolithic from the same area, made from a very long, thin bladelet.
*The ''[[Khiamian|El-Khiam]] point'' has been identified by the Spanish archeologist González Echegaray in [[Protoneolithic]] sites in [[Jordan]]. They are little known but easy to identify by two basal notches, doubtless used as a haft.<ref>{{Cite book | author = González Echegaray, J. | title = Excavaciones en la terraza de El Khiam (Jordania)
| year = 1964 | publisher = Bibliotheca Praehistorica Hispana}}</ref>

<gallery>
Image:Pointes de chatelperron.jpg|Châtelperrón points
Image:Pointe de la Gravette MHNT PRE.2009.0.231.2.fond (2).jpg|Micro-gravette
Image:Pointe 228.2 La Tourasse (3).jpg|Azilian point
Image:Ahrensburg point.png|Ahrensburguien point
Image:Emireh point.png|[[Emireh point]]
Image:El-Wad point.png|[[El-Wad]] point
Three El-Khiam points from JQ-101.jpg|[[El-Khiam]] point
Image:Adelaida point.png|Adelaide point
File:Helwan points (Abu Salem points sub-type).jpg|[[Helwan]] points (Abu Salem points sub-type)
</gallery>

The ''[[Adelaide]] point'' is found in [[Australia]]. Its construction, based on truncations on a blade, has a nearly trapezoidal form. The Adelaide point emphasizes the range of variation in both time and culture of the laminar microliths; it also shows their technological differences, but sometimes morphological similarities, with geometric microliths. Laminar microliths can also sometimes be described as trapezoidal, triangular or lunate.<ref>Geometric shapes, as we have seen, are present in many laminar microliths: for example the ''Dufour bladelet'' is an elongated lunate shape, the ''El-Emireh point'' is a triangle and the ''Adelaide point'' is a trapeze, the ''El-Wad point'' is spindle shaped; and there are many other examples.</ref> However, they are distinct from the geometric microliths because of the strokes used in the manufacture of geometric microliths, which mainly involved the [[microburin technique]].