THE OLD STONE AGE 
the pebbles he selected for working, and not out of their 
cores (Fig. 43). This practice, as already stated, forms 
one of the fundamental points of difference between the 
Mousterian “industry” and those which preceded it. At 
first, it is true, the fist- 
ax, Or coup-de-poing, a Core 
“core” implement, con- 
tinued to be made, but 
only in degenerate form; 
and it gradually disap- 
peared altogether. The 
instruments _ especially 
typical of the Mousterian 
culture were formed from 
large flakes of flint struck 
off from a nodule. The 
inner surface of a flake 
thus detached from the 
parent core is of glassy 
smoothness and slightly 
bulging form, and _ re- 
quires no further treat- 
ment to render it fit for 
use. Only its outer side 
needs to be chipped or 
“retouched” until the 
flake assumes the desired 
shape. These flake im- Fic. 43. The core of a flint nodule (above), 
Plemipmiesstaerptare com, fate crcl! fom it ste) By 
bined greater ease of cussion indicated. After Schmidt 
manufacture with un- 
doubtedly much greater effectiveness. They took different 
forms, designed for chopping, hacking, scraping, boring, 
drilling, piercing, cutting, and sawing, so that Mousterian 
man had a tool kit of no mean proportions. 
During this period, also, we find the first indications of 
the regular use of implements made of bone. The latter 
[193 ] 
- Point of percussion 
~ Bulb of percussion 
~ Sear 
U . 
~~~’ Concentric waves 
Flakes 
