RETOUCH TYPES



retouch types
There are 7 main types of retouch. These have been defined by Tixier, Inizan and Roche 1980, 92 and Bordes 1961, 9-10 as scraper retouch, parallel retouch, sub-parallel retouch, and scalar retouch, with additions noted by Brézillon 1977, 109 of fine retouch, abrupt retouch, and invasive retouch.

To indicate where the retouch is found on an artifact another set of terms is used. See position of retouch.

scraper retouch
This type of retouch is called scraper or normal retouch as it is one of the most common types found in the manufacture of tools. It can be formed by hard hammer or soft hammer percussion Furthermore, it is often direct and modifies the edge which then tends to form an angle of approximately 50 degrees with the ventral surface. It is also sometimes referred to as semi-abrupt retouch.

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parallel retouch
Parallel retouch type is the detachment of long, thin, evenly spaced removals (Bordes 1961, 9-10; Tixier, Inizan and Roche 1980, 92). This is normally considered to be restricted to use in producing more elaborate tool types, such as daggers or knives.
This type of retouch can be applied to produce a number of special effects, particularly when it is placed obliquely, transversely or in the form of a chevron.

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sub-parallel retouch
Sub-parallel retouch type is very similar to parallel retouch only it is not as precise or as even (Bordes 1961, 9-10; Tixier, Inizan and Roche 1980, 92).
Again the retouch is applied by pressure flaking which, in common with all retouch, is applied to the surface opposite the one facing the knapper.

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fine retouch
Fine retouch type is made by applying a line of small (i.e. a few millimeters in size) evenly-spaced removals to the edge of the blank. This normally does little to the outline of the piece - it is most often used to correct minor irregularities to the natural shape of the artifact. See Brézillon 1977, 109 and 114.

It is necessary to check carefully that this retouch type is not confused with edge damage. Fine retouch must be composed of evenly-spaced, well-formed, continuous removals which are normally restricted to one surface (i.e. the dorsal or the ventral). Edge damage is, by definition, irregular, erratic and is frequently found on both surfaces.

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abrupt retouch
Abrupt retouch type is applied at between 70 and 90 degrees on the edge or end of an artifact. It is produced in two ways: with and without the use of an anvil. These have been defined as follows:

"Normal abrupt retouch. This is retouch, only slightly or not at all scaled, where the removals form a neat right angle with the ventral surface and clearly reduce the width of the piece, thus squarely removing the cutting edge of the edge or edges it occupies, forming a 'back'" (Tixier 1974, 20).

"Abrupt retouch on an anvil. This is abrupt retouch where the removals start from both surfaces of the piece and form a back. ...it appears that (a piece was) placed on an anvil then retouched all along the edge, the removals made by the counterblows of the anvil only beginning at the point where the piece comes in contact with the anvil..." (Tixier 1974, 21). This form of application is often characterized by crushing along the surface of contact with the anvil.

Abrupt retouch completely removes the original cutting edge of a blank. When this is applied to a lateral edge it is called backing; if applied to the distal end the piece is considered to be truncated flake or a truncated blade Truncation can be an end in itself or a means to further production. Due to the steep angle to the ventral surface formed by this application this type of retouch is normally used for shaping and blunting rather than for sharpening a blank. See Brézillon 1977, fig. 20, h and i; and 108, 110, 115, 118-122.

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scalar retouch
Scalar retouch, or scaliform retouch type, is a semi-abrupt form which fractures on the end of the removals in steps or scales. It is a more extreme form of scaled retouch and the depth and angle of the detachments imply the use of a dense or sturdy percussor (Bordes 1961, 9-10; Tixier, Inizan and Roche 1980, 92). It has been successfully duplicated by using the central section of a wooden baton percussor and striking abruptly onto the edge chosen for modification. Scalar retouch can be applied to thin blanks, but because of the depth of the removals a thick blank is often used.
Scalar retouch is also called Quina retouch as it application is characteristic of this Middle Palaeolithic, or Mousterian, industry. See Brézillon 1977, 112.

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invasive retouch
Invasive retouch position is the term used to describe the application of retouch that covers most, or all, of an artifact. In the lower Palaeolithic handaxes are produced with invasive bifacial retouch using direct percussion. In later periods invasive retouch is often achieved by using the long flake removals of parallel retouch and/or sub-parallel retouch, which are thought to be applied by pressure flaking. It differs from other retouch positioning in that it is applied with the purpose of shaping the entire artifact - others are restricted to modifying the edges. Invasive retouch can be applied unifacially, bifacially or can be limited to selected areas of an artifact.

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