In anthropology, a blade refers to a specialized type of stone tool: a long, narrow flake struck from a prepared core, at least twice as long as it is wide, with parallel or subparallel edges. Blades are central to lithic technology studies because they represent a major innovation in prehistoric toolmaking.

🌍 Definition

• Blade (Archaeology/Anthropology): A flake removed from a stone core that is elongated and standardized in shape.
• Diagnostic Features:
  • Length at least twice the width.
  • Parallel or subparallel sides.
  • At least two dorsal ridges from previous removals.
• Materials: Typically made from cryptocrystalline stones like flint, chert, or obsidian, which fracture predictably.

🔑 Archaeological Contexts

• Upper Paleolithic Revolution:
  • Blade technology flourished in Europe ~40,000–10,000 years ago.
  • Associated with anatomically modern humans and advanced toolkits (burins, scrapers, backed blades).
• Earlier Origins:
  • Evidence shows blade production began earlier, in the Middle Paleolithic, in Africa and Eurasia.
• Mesoamerican Traditions:
  • Obsidian blade industries were highly developed, producing standardized cutting tools for both utilitarian and ritual use.

📚 Importance in Anthropology

• Technological Insight: Blades reflect planning, skill, and efficiency in lithic reduction.
• Cognitive Significance: Their standardization is often linked to advanced cognitive abilities in Homo sapiens.
• Cultural Identity: Blade industries mark specific cultural traditions (Aurignacian, Magdalenian, Mesoamerican workshops).
• Material Culture Link: Blades were multipurpose—used for cutting, scraping, piercing, and retouched into specialized tools.

In short: In anthropology, a blade is a long, standardized stone flake central to Upper Paleolithic and later tool traditions, reflecting advanced planning, cognitive sophistication, and cultural identity.