Levalloisian

Lev·al·loi·si·an  (lv-loiz-n)

adj.

Of or relating to a western European stage in Lower Paleolithic culture, characterized by a distinctive method of striking off flake tools from pieces of stone.

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[After Levallois-Perret, city in north-central France.]

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Levalloisian  (lv-loiz-n)

Relating to a technique for producing flaked stone tools that appeared in the late stages of the Acheulian (Lower Paleolithic) tool culture, characterized by a distinctive method of striking off flake tools from a prepared stone core. In the Levalloisian technique, large, sharp flakes were struck from the core with a single blow and could be used, possibly for skinning and butchering, without further flaking or finishing. Later refinements to the Levalloisian technique formed the basis for the Mousterian (Middle Paleolithic) technology.