Lamellar Flakes versus Blades, a Reappraisal

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Abstract
A body of literature has grown up on the archaeology of the American Arctic region in recent years concerning a core and blade industry. Nelson (1937) and Rainey (1939), who were among the first writers to note the evidences there of this industry, called attention to the occurrence of “prismatic flakes” in association with prepared flint cores. The first use in the Eskimo area of the equally singular term, “lamellar flake,” to my knowledge appears in Wintemberg's (1939: 89-91) paper on the Dorset Culture, wherein we find the term “lamellar flakes” used in ostensibly the same descriptive sense as “prismatic flakes.” Leechman (1943: 370) discusses “laminate blades” at a later date in the Cape Dorset sites under the heading “narrow flaked blades.” Although Johnson (1946) still later refers to “prismatic flakes,” the die was cast and the term “lamellar flake” was adopted and accepted by some in Arctic archaeology.