The oldest flint scrapers (or racloirs) appeared during the Lower Paleolithic period, although they are considered to be more typical of the Middle Paleolithic period, being associated with Mousterian culture. They are tools made from river stones or, as in the case of this example, from large flint flakes. They have one or more edges that have been knapped and retouched to create a regular, continuous edge. They are multifunctional tools used for scraping, cutting or abrading. They were used for working hide, meat and plant materials.