{{short description|Surface on a lithic flake on which the detachment blow falls}}
In the archaeological study of lithic reduction, the '''striking platform''' is the surface on the proximal portion of a lithic flake on which the detachment blow falls;<ref>Kooyman, Brian Patrick. ''Understanding Stone Tools and Archaeological Sites''. University of Calgary Press, 2000, p. 12.</ref> this may be natural or prepared. Types of striking platforms include:
* Cortex, which consists of an area of cortex used as a platform during initial reduction; * Single-faceted, consisting of a flat platform at right angles to the dorsal surface of the flake and most often associated with conchoidal fractures; * Double-faceted, a variety of multifaceted, prepared platform, also characteristically flat and associated with conchoidal fractures; * Multifaceted, with three or more facets to the platform; * Lipped, a platform type resulting from soft hammer biface reduction; and * Crushed, which occurs when the platform was crushed beyond easy recognition by the detachment blow.
==Notes== {{Reflist}}
{{Prehistoric technology}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Striking Platform}} Category:Lithics