Flint point

During the Paleolithic era, stone-knapping became increasingly precise, within the archeological industry known as Mousterian industry. It was at this time that the first points were made, using techniques known as the Levallois stone-knapping technique, in which a prepared core could be turned into a tool with a predetermined shape. Points were made from different materials such as flint or quartzite. They had a pointed end and a cutting edge which was sometimes retouched, and were used for a variety of different functions such as cutting or as projectiles for hunting. They were sometimes hafted onto a wooden handle. The different shapes allow us to tell fairly accurately which era and which archeological industry they belong to.