Editing Microlith (section)

===Geometric microliths===

Geometric microliths are a clearly defined type of stone tool, at least in their basic forms. They can be divided into trapezoid, triangular and lunate (half-moon) forms, although there are many subdivisions of each of these types. A [[microburin]] is included among the illustrations below because, although it is not a geometrical microlith (or even a tool),<ref>Some of the earlier researchers, such as Octobon {{Cite book
| author = Octobon, E.
| chapter = La question tardenoisienne. Montbani
| title = Revue Anthropologique
| year = 1920
| page =107
}}), Peyrony and Noone ({{Cite journal
| author = Peyrony, D. y Noone H. V. V.
| title = Usage possible des microburins
| year = 1938
| publisher = Bulletin de la Société Préhistorique Française
| volume =  2
| number = numéro 3
}}, believed that these microburins had a useful function. Currently it has been demonstrated that these microburins did not have a function, at least not intentionally, although it cannot be ruled out that they were not reused at some point.</ref> it is now seen as a characteristic waste product from the manufacture of these geometric microliths:
<gallery>
Image:Microburin.png|Microburin
Image:Microlito Trapecio.png|Trapeze
Image:Microlito Triángulo.png|Triangle
Image:Microlito Segmento de-círculo.png|Lunate
</gallery>

Geometric microliths, though rare, are present as trapezoids in Northwest Africa in the [[Iberomaurusian]]. They later appear in Europe in the [[Magdalenian]]<ref>{{Cite book
| author = Bordes, F. y Fitte, P.
| chapter = Microlithes du Magdalénien supérieur de la Gare de Gouze (Dordogne)
| title = Miscelánea en homenaje al Abate Henri Breuil. Vol. I
| year = 1964
| publisher = Barcelona
| page =264
}}</ref> initially as elongated triangles and later as trapezoids (although the microburin technique is seen from the [[Perigordian]]), they are mostly seen during the [[Epipaleolithic]] and the [[Neolithic]]. They remained in existence even into the [[Copper Age]] and [[Bronze Age]], competing with "leafed" and then metallic arrowheads.

====Microburin technique====
{{multiple image
| align = right
| image1 = Arpón con microlitos.png
| width1 = 120
| alt1 = 
| caption1 = The most widely accepted hypothesis is that geometric microliths were used on projectiles such as this harpoon.
| image2 = Tværmose arrow (Denmark).png
| width2 = 160
| alt2 = 
| caption2 = Trapezoid microliths and arrow with a trapeze used to strengthen the tip, found in a peat bog at Tværmose (Denmark)
| footer = 
}}

All the currently known geometric microliths share the same fundamental characteristics &ndash; only their shapes vary. They were all made from blades or from microblades (nearly always of flint), using the [[microburin]] technique (which implies that it is not possible to conserve the remains of the heel or the conchoidal flakes from the blank). The pieces were then finished by a percussive retouching of the edges (generally leaving one side with the natural edge of the blank), giving the piece its definitive polygonal form. For example, in order to make a triangle, two adjacent notches were retouched, leaving free the third edge or ''base''<ref name="fortea80-103"/> (using the terminology of Fortea). They generally have one long axis and concave or convex edges, and it is possible for them to have a gibbosity (hump) or indentations. Triangular microliths may be [[isosceles]], [[Triangle#Types of triangle|scalene]] or [[equilateral]]. In the case of trapezoid geometric microliths, on the other hand, the notches are not retouched, leaving a portion of the natural edge between them. Trapezoids can be further subdivided into symmetrical, asymmetrical and those with concave edges. [[Lunate]] microliths have the least diversity of all and may be either semicircular or [[Circular segment|segmental]].

Archeological findings and the analysis of wear marks, or [[use-wear analysis]], has shown that, predictably, the tips of [[spear]]s, [[harpoon]]s and other light projectiles of varying size received the most wear. Microliths were also used from the [[Neolithic]] on [[arrow]]s, although a decline in this use coincided with the appearance of bifacial or "leafed" arrowheads that became widespread in the [[Chalcolithic]] period, or Copper Age (that is, stone arrowheads were increasingly made by a different technique during this later period).