Lithics Codes used in Online Datasets

For a full breakdown of all the codes used in the project, please view the code list and field list files held in the database section of the digital archive.

Lithics Finds - Category

Initial grouping of batch by category. Two letter codes for ground stone, broad chipped stone reduction category, or lithic discard.

Code	Definition	Description
Bl	Blank	Complete flake, blade, bladelet or chip.
Co	Core	Chipped stone core or core trimming element.
De	Debris (Chipped stone)	Chunk, blank fragment or other miscellaneous debris. No class entered
GS	Ground stone	Ground stone - as opposed to chipped stone to which all other categories apply.
Ma	Material	Unworked, raw material specimen retained as diagnostic material.
Ot	Other	Other categories.
Th	Thrown	Lithic discarded. No further record made.
To	Tool (Chipped stone)	Retouched tool or utilized implement.

Lithics Class

A second level designation providing sub-groups for ground stone, cores and tools. Blanks and debris are not assigned a class level description. This field is left blank if 'Hammer Stone' entered under Type. Ground Stone is grouped by a division of function. Cores are grouped by type of blank removal, CTE forms a final sub-group. Tools (chipped stone) are grouped by established tool classes. Pièces esquillées not given class, only type code.

Code	Definition	Description
Bac	Backed	Tool exhibiting a retouched back.
Bla	Blade	Core exhibiting only, or dominated by, negative blade scars.
Blt	Bladelet	Core exhibiting only, or dominated by, negative bladelet scars.
Bur	Burin	Tool exhibiting one or more burin facet/s.
Chp	Chip	Core exhibiting only, or dominated by, negative chip scars.
CTE	Core trimming	Core element.
Cut	Ground stone - Cutting	Ground tools such as axes and flaked tools associated with cutting.
Den	Denticulate	Tool defined by a denticulated or multi-notched tool edge.
Fla	Flake	Core exhibiting only, or dominated by, negative flake scars.
Glo	Glossed	Tool defined by the presence of gloss.
Gri	Ground stone. Grinding	Ground tool exhibiting surfaces for grinding, pounding or otherwise crushing substances.
Man	Ground stone. Manufacture	Ground - primary or resharpening flake of gound stone.
Mul	Multi-tool / Multi-blank core	Tool or blank exhibiting elements from two or more of any of the single classes, not resulting from re-use. No Type entered, tool classes / blanks listed in 'multi-classes' field.
Not	Notched	Tool defined by the presence of 1-3 notches.
Oth	Ground stone. Other	Tools or pieces not covered by other classes.
Per	Perforator	Tool defined by a distinct retouched or utilized tip or corner exhibiting macro-wear indicating rotation.
Ret	Retouched	Tool defined by marginal retouch.
RMa	Ground stone. Raw material	Unworked stone retained as diagnostic material.
Scr	Scraper	Tool defined by abrupt 'scraper' retouch and a convex delineation.
Tru	Truncation	Tool where retouch truncates a distal or proximal end.
Uti	Utilized	Tool exhibiting patterned macro edge or surface wear.
Ves	Ground stone. Vessel	Ground vessel or vessel fragment.
Wei	Weight	Ground stone. Ground - perforated stones and other potential weights.

Lithics - Material

Raw material of lithics in batch.

Code	Definition	Description
Bas	Basalt	A volcanic rock typically black or gray in colour with a very fine grain.
Cha	Chalcedony	Either a coarse 'quartz' looking rock with white, orange, blue or purple tints or a very fine clear to translucent tinted stone.
Chr	Chromite
CnL	Chert	Any non-Lefkara or non-Mamonia chert.
Dia	Diabase	A volcanic rock typically exhibiting grey to dark green colour and fine grain.
Gab	Gabbro	A volcanic rock like micro-gabbro, but exhibiting a large grain size.
Gyp	Gypsum
Har	Harzburgite
Jas	Jasper	A coarse silica stone typically in red, green or dark yellow colours.
Lap	Lapithos chert	A limestone chert like Lefkara chert, but assigned to the Lapithos formation of Kyrenia. A more moderate quality typically exhibiting negative radiolarian cavities instead of limestone inclusions.
LBa	Lefkara-basal	An opaque Lefkara chert typically in pale red, brown, yellow, olive colours.
LTD	Lefkara-dense translucent	A variant of Lefkara-translucent that of moderate quality that is semi-opaque, typically banded and exhibits a rougher surface texture.
LTr	Lefkara-translucent	A medium to good quality translucent limestone chert of the Lefkara formation typically exhibiting numerous limestone inclusions.
Mam	Mamonina	A hard but very poor quality pale red and white banded chert assigned to the Mamonia formation, typically used for hammerstones.
Mar	White marble
MGa	Micro-gabbro	A volcanic rock like diabase, but exhibiting a medium grain size.
Mon	'Moni'	A Lefkara chert varient of good to high quality marked by a distinctive and frequently mottled black, gray, bluish-gray to gray-brown colour range.
Obs	Obsidian	A volcanic glass not occurring naturally in Cyprus.
Pic	Picrolite	A soft sedimentary rock with a distinctive pale bluish-green colour.
SUm	Silicified umber	Umber with a high silica content creating a hard stone that permits concoidal fracturing.
Tra	Translucent	A very high quality translucent Lefkara formation chert, typically found in red, red-brown, to olive and gray colours.
Umb	Umber	Red, brown, yellow umber.
Vas	Vasicular basalt	A dense volcanic rock exhibiting negative air bubble casts.

Chipped Stone - Type

Tertiary level designation defining artefact groups within chipped stone class. Three letter codes, except for Blanks. Most Types can only be applied to one particular Class. Cores are defined by scar patterns and platform character. CTE defined by relationship to core shaping or maintenance. Blanks are defined by size and mount of dorsal cortex. Blades are twice as long as they are wide. Bladelets <= 40mm long and 12mm wide. Chips <=15mm max. Spalls are made by the burin-blow technique. Debris are defined as any blank fragment or chunk (angular debris) Tool type is defined according to a list of established types within each class division.

Code	Definition	Description
Abr	Abrasion utilized	Utilized implement exhibiting abrasion or edge rounding on any edge or surface not attributed to natural processed.
Alt	Alternating	1. Core with generally single platform edge with alternating removal scars. 2. Backed piece with alternating retouch. / Denticulated edge produced by alternating retouch. 3. Marginal retouched tool exhibiting alternating retouch.
Amp	Amorphous	Core with multiple platform/face.
B-1	Fully cortical blade	Blank type.
B-2	Partly cortical blade	Blank type.
B-3	Non-cortical blade	Blank type.
Bac	Backed	Glossed tool with a retouched back.
BaT	Backed and truncated	1. Backed piece with both a backing and truncation. 2. Backed and truncated glossed segment.
Bif	Bifical	Reotuched biface.
Bil	Bilateral	Marginal retouched tool exhibiting bilateral retouch.
Bit	Bitruncated piece	Truncations exhibited on both distal and basal ends.
BL-1	Fully cortical bladelet	Blank type.
BL-2	Partly cortical bladelet	Blank type.
BL-3	Non-cortical bladelet	Blank type.
BOB	Burin-on-break	Burin faceted on a break.
Bor	Borer	Perforator with a relatively thick tip.
Cav	Concave	1. Backed piece exhibiting a concave delineation. 2. Burin faceted from a concave retouched truncation. 3. A distal or basal truncation with a concave delineation. 4. Marginal retouched tool exhibiting a concave delineation.
Ch-1	Fully cortical chip	Blank type.
Ch-2	Partly cortical chip	Blank type.
Ch-3	Non-cortical chip	Blank type.
Cha	Change-of-orientation	Core with 2 or more platforms juxtaposed at 90-degrees.
Chu	Chunk
COF	Core-on-flake	Core with flaked flake with scars not exhibiting wear.
Crs	Crested flake/blade	Flake or blade exhibiting a dorsal crest used to establish straight ridges on core face.
Dho	Dhoukani 'tooth'	Unretouched or marginally retouched tool exhibiting the size, morphology and wear diagnostic of Cypriot threshing sledge teeth.
Dih	Dihedral	Burin faceted on an acute angled intersection.
Dir	Direct	Denticulated edge with direct retouch.
Dis	Discoidal	Bifacial with alternating platform edge around entire circumference.
Dri	Drill	Perforator with a fine tip.
Dub	Double	1. Scraper exhibiting retouch on both distal and proximal ends or both lateral edges. 2. Tool with two notches.
End	End	Scraper exhibiting retouch on the distal or proximal end.
Err	Error correction	Any flake, blade, bladelet, chip or spall showing correction of core face.
ESd	End/Side	Scraper with continuous retouch on both an end and lateral edge.
F-1	Fully cortical flake	Blank type.
F-2	Partly cortical flake	Blank type.
F-3	Non-cortical flake	Blank type.
Frg	Fragment	Blank fragment or core fragment lacking intact platforms and not identifiable to type.
Gen	General utilized	Utilized implement exhibiting continuous or patterned edge damage not attributed to recent damage.
Ham	Hammerstone
Mis	Miscellaneous fragments	Universal type
Mix	Mixed	Burin exhibiting feature of 2 or more burin types.
Nat	Alternate	Marginal retouched tool exhibiting alternate retouch.
Nuc	Nucliform	Multiple faceted burin such that it resembles a core.
Obl	Oblique	Transverse truncation set at an oblique angle to the flaking angle of the tool blank.
Opp	Opposed platform	Core with 2 opposed platforms on same or alternate faces.
Ovr	Overshot	Any flake, blade, bladelet, chip or spall with a truncated a core platform on its distal end.
Pic	Pick	Heavy core-like piece with deliberately fashioned pointed end.
Pnt	Point	No class designation, these rare pieces are described individually.
PRj	Platform rejuvenation	Any flake, blade, bladelet, chip or spall exhibiting the removal of a core platform.
Psq	Pièce esquillée	Any piece exhibiting opposing battered edges on a blank segment with regular rectilinear delineation. No class designation.
Ptd	Pointed	Marginal retouched tool exhibiting a retouched pointed end.
Rec	Rectilinear	1. Marginal retouched tool exhibiting a rectilinear delineation. 2. Backed piece with a rectilinear delineation.
ReS	Tool resharpening	Universal type
Ret	Notched and retouched piece	Notched tool also exhibiting another zone of retouch (either notch or retouch could have been a backing in function terms).
Rou	Round	Scraper exhibiting retouch around all or nearly all of the tool circumference.
Sid	Side	Scraper exhibiting retouch one lateral edge.
Sim	Simple	Burin faceted from an unaltered edge.
Sin	Single platform	1. Core with scars on 1 or more faces struck from one platform. 2. Tool with a single notch, including 'clactonian' notches.
Sp-1	Fully cortical spall	Blank type.
Sp-2	Partly cortical spall	Blank type.
Sp-3	Non-cortical spall	Blank type.
Spl	Splintered piece	Core with opposing battered platforms generated by the bipolar-on-anvil technique.
SpP	Split pebble	Pebble split by single concoidal blow.
Stp	Steep	Scraper exhibiting very steep retouch, typically on one or both
Str	Straight truncation	Burin faceted from a rectilinear retouched truncation.
Tan	Tanged blade	Blade or blade fragment exhibiting a uni- or bilateral retouched tang.
Tes	Tested	Material block exhibiting only 1 or 2 negative scars.
Tra	Transverse	Exhibiting a rectilinear retouched truncation cutting either the diatal or basal end.
Tri	Triple notch	Notched piece with three notches.
Tru	Truncated	Glossed tool with one or two retouched truncations.
URt	Unretouched	Glossed tool without secondary retouch.
Vex	Convex	1. Backed piece exhibiting a convex delineation. 2. Marginal retouched tool exhibiting a convex delineation.
Weg	Wedge utilized	Utilized implement exhibiting coarse alternating edge damage on one or typically two opposing edges.

Butt Type

Established types used to define the character of the butt or basal end that receives the blow to remove the blank from the core.

Code	Definition	Description
Comp	Compression	A crushed butt representing the use of a compression rather than percussive or pressure technique.
Dih	Dihedral	A butt with two facets that form an apex where they join, and on which the butt was struck.
Fac	Facetted	A butt exhibiting 2 or more negative scar facets or scar remnants.
PL	Plain	A butt formed from a single scar or scar remnant.
PtPl	Plain pointed	A very diminutive plain butt.
Tex	Cortex	An unshaped butt struck on the exterior surface of the core.

Chipped Blank Type

Type of blank module. Each of these notations use the 1,2,3 cortex sub-divisions: Fully Cortical, Partly Cortical, Non-cortical.

Code	Definition
B	Blade
BL	Bladelet
Ch	Chip
F	Flake
M	Medial blank fragment
NO	Non-orientable blank fragment
Oth	Other. Additional notations, most commonly, Prem or irregular types e.g. 'flat pebble'.
P	Proximal blank fragment
Sp	Spall
T	Distal blank fragment

Cortex Type

Description of cortex, distinguishing between different types of source materials.

Code	Definition
Chalk	Fresh primary source cortex.
None	No cortex present.
Pebble	Non-chalk exterior surfaces still primary source but may not be 'in situ' where rolled down from outcrop vein.
Wadi/water rolled	Secondary source materials collected from rivers, exhibit a well rounded smoothed exterior surface with numerous incipient cone fractures.

Dorsal Scars

Dorsal scar configuration, used to help indicate the type of core reduction method used.

Type	Description
Bidirectional	A bidirectional scar configuration.
Cortex	A cortical dorsal surface.
Crossed	A configuration showing scars crossed at 90 degrees.
Kombiwa	The remnant of a positive or ventral scar, indicating that the piece was struck from a larger flake or other blank.
Radial	A radial scar configuration.
Unidirectional	Any unidirectional configuration.

Ground Blank Type

Type	Description
Boulder	Large nodule.
Cobble	Medium nodule.
Flake	Blank produced by concoidal fracture.
Pebble	Small nodule.

Longitudinal Section

Description of the longitudinal section view of a ground stone inventory item.

Type	Description
Bicon	Biconical perforation
Cave	Concave
Cir	Circular
Cyln	Cylindrical perforation
Fl	Flat
Irr	Irregular
Ov	Ovular
Plano	Plano-convex
Tri	Triangular
Vex	Convex

Plan Shape

Description of the plan view of a ground stone inventory item.

Type	Description
Irr	Irregular
Oth	Other
Ov	Ovular
Rod	Rod-shaped
Sp	Spherical
Sq	Squared

Retouch Delineation

A numeric scale used to describe the retouch outline of the inventory item. Multiple retouch segments are separated by commas and are listed in the same order as the retouch locations.

Code	Definition
1	Rectilinear
2	Convex
3	Concave
4	Shouldered
5	Sinuous
6	Irregular
7	Nosed

Retouch /Edge Location

A numeric scale 1-10 recording the location of retouch scars and worked edges. Multiple segments are separated by commas. Continuous segments noted with a dash.

Code	Definition
1	Left basal edge
2	Left medial edge
3	Left distal edge
4	Right basal edge
5	Right medial edge
6	Right distal edge
7	Basal end
8	Distal end
9	Total left lateral
10	Total right lateral

Retouch Type

A numeric scale used to describe the morphology of the retouch scars. Multiple retouched segments are separated by commas and follow the same order as retouch location.

Code	Definition
1	Normal
2	Stepped/scaled
3	Parallel
4	Sub-parallel
5	Couze
6	Irregular

Termination Type

Characterizes the termination or point at which a fracture left the parent core and is used to indicate successful fracture associated with level of skill. Recorded only when distal end is intact.

Code	Definition	Description
Fea	Feather	A finely tapered, sharp termination.
Hin	Hinge	A convex rounded termination where the fracture bends outwards through side of the core.
Stp	Step	An abrupt failure of fracture resulting in essentially a break.

Transverse Section

Description of the transverse section view of a ground stone inventory item.

Code	Definition
Bicon	Biconical perforation
Cave	Concave
Cir	Circular
Cyln	Cylindrical perforation
Fl	Flat
Irr	Irregular
Ov	Ovular
Plano	Plano-convex
Tri	Triangular
Vex	Convex

Use-surface character

Description of the location of the working surface/s and a note concerning overall quality.

Code	Definition	Description
Bi	Bifacial	Working on both upper and lower surfaces.
Bpol	Bipolar	Use on two opposite ends.
Mult	Multifacial	Working on more than two surfaces.
Uni	Unifacial	Working on one face only.
Upol	Unipolar	Use on one end.