BURINS
BURINS
A burin is a chisel-like implement derived from a flake or blade; the modification
of other implements by using the burin technique to remove the edges parallel
to their long axis and/or transversely or obliquely. Generally forms a right
angle edge on one or both margins. The specialized flake removed as a result
of the burin break is called a burin blade or burin spall (Crabtree
1982, 27).
A burin is a tool which can take many forms but all are made by the burin
blow technique. This has been defined as the action of making the ´sides´
of a burin.
A burin spall can be defined as "the part of a flake, blade, or bladelet
detached by burin blow technique" (Tixier
1974, 9).
"The 'sides' of a burin consists of one or more burin facets, that
is, flake scars each of which is produced by striking a piece off a flake,
blade or bladelet, which may or may not have been prepared to receive this
blow. The piece which is struck off is usually long and narrow, and is called
the 'burin spall'." (Tixier 1974,
9)
dihedral burin
A dihedral burin is a burin that is made by two (or more) intersecting burin
facets so that a point is formed.
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burin on a break
A burin on a break is a burin where the burin blow was made on to a break
surface. Often a blade is broken to provide a platform for the burin blow.
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burin on a truncation
A burin on a truncation- similar to a burin on a break except the platform
has been retouched i.e. the blank has been truncated by retouch rather than
simply broken.
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multiple burin
- when a number of burin blows i.e. more than two, have been made at the
same place.
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