View source for Racloir

{{Short description|Type of flint tool}}

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[[File:RacloirLa Quina MHNT PRE.2009.0.206.1 (2).jpg|thumb|Type of [[Mousterian]] Racloir]]
[[File:Raedera Atapuerca (TG11).jpg|thumb|'''Racloir''' from Galería (TG11) of [[Archaeological Site of Atapuerca|Atapuerca]]]]
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In archaeology, a  '''racloir''', also known as ''racloirs sur talon'' (French for "scraper on heel"), is a type of [[flint]] [[stone tool|tool]] made by prehistoric peoples.

==Description==
The racloir is a type of [[Grattoir de côté|side scraper]] distinctive of [[Mousterian]] [[Assemblage (Archaeology)|assemblage]]s. It is created from a flint [[lithic flake|flake]] and looks like a large [[Scraper (archaeology)|scraper]]. As well as being used for scraping [[Hide (skin)|hide]]s and [[Bark (botany)|bark]], it may also have been used as a knife. 

Racloirs are most associated with the [[Neanderthal]] Mousterian [[archaeological industry|industry]]. These racloirs are [[Retouch (lithics)|retouch]]ed along the ridge between the [[striking platform]] and the dorsal face. They have shaped edges and are modified by abrupt flaking from the dorsal face.

==References==
*{{cite book|last=Lewin|first=Roger|title=Human Evolution: An Illustrated Introduction |year=2005|publisher=Wiley-Blackwell|page=225}}
*{{cite news|last=Barkai & Gopher|first=R|title=Reintroducing Butt Scrapers (Racloirs Sur Talon): Another Look at a Non-formal Tool Type |year=1998|publisher=Lithic Technology|page=22}}
*{{cite book|title=Racloir |year=2008|publisher=The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology}}

{{Prehistoric technology| state=expanded}}

[[Category:Types of archaeological artefact]]
[[Category:Lithics]]
[[Category:Mousterian]]

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