Museum complex

Bifaces from Chikiani

Georgia, Chikiani site
Period – Lower Paleolithic
Culture - Acheulian
Stone (andesite)
Almond-shaped biface - 9х16 cm; Oval biface - 8х15 cm; Subtriangular biface - 10х13 cm
From: surface finds of Z.K. Kikodze (Museum of History of Georgia), 1983 – 1984
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Biface is tool with full or partially two-side retouch characteristic for the Acheulian period and in a less degree for the middle Paleolithic. Bifaces were made of nodule as well as of large flakes. Biface is a tool used by early man and widespread during the Lower Paleolithic (1,8 million – 300 000 years ago). It is a big almond-shaped stone, rounded and a bit thick at one end and a little sharpen at another. Edges of the tool were also a little sharpen by retouch (reduction). Early types of bifaces were crude, latest were of higher quality. The tool was polyfunctional and could be used for different operations like cutting, fracture, piercing, soft and hard materials. For example, it could be used for killing beasts, butchering its flesh, or cutting wood or bone. Exhibits' purpose of use – polyfunctional (piercing, cutting, scraping) tool.

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