A note on the term 'lithic'

摘要

The term ithic?is derived from the ancient Greek word for ock?(lithos), used in the late fourth century BCE by the scholar Theophrastus. The term ithic?in the way we use it today, meaning small rock artifact, most often chipped or ground stone, came into common use less than eight decades ago. The terms tone tool?and tone implement?remain firmly entrenched in the archaeological literature.