# Termination type

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Termination_type
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Termination_type.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Termination_type
> Source revision: 928236776
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{short description|Characteristic in lithic reduction}}
In [lithic reduction](/source/lithic_reduction), '''termination type''' is a characteristic indicating the manner in which the distal end of a [lithic flake](/source/lithic_flake) detaches from a [core](/source/lithic_core) (Andrefsky 1998:18).  Common types include:

* '''Step/snap termination''' – these occur when a flake snaps or breaks during removal, resulting in an abrupt right-angle break.
* '''Hinge termination''' – results when the applied force rolls away from the core or objective piece, creating a rounded or blunted distal end.
* '''Overshot/outrepasse/plunging termination''' - occurs when the applied force dips and removes a section of the opposite margin of the artifact or the distal end of the core.  Also referred to as a reverse hinge termination.
* '''Perverse termination''' - "twisting" breaks resulting from when the applied force is redirected through the material in a [helical](/source/Helix) fashion;
* '''Feather/monotomic termination''' – a smooth termination that results in a feathered distal end.  The distal ends of these flakes are only a few molecules thick, are extremely sharp, and indicate a flawless detachment.  These are the intended results of some lithic reduction techniques, and are very desirable for opportunistic tool use that does not require [retouching](/source/Retouch_(lithics)) or sharpening.

==References==
* Andrefsky, William, Jr. (1998) ''Lithics: Macroscopic approaches to analysis''.  Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Category:Lithics

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Termination type](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Termination_type) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Termination_type?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.