What type of tools are characterized as Middle Palaeolithic tools?

Middle Palaeolithic tools are primarily characterized by flake tools, which are produced through a specific technique known as the Levallois technique. This method involves striking a core in a way that allows for the production of specific, predetermined flake shapes. These flakes were then used for cutting, scraping, and processing hide, meat, and plant materials, showcasing the increased sophistication in tool-making during this era.

Hand axes are typically associated with the earlier Lower Palaeolithic period, as they are a hallmark of Acheulean technologies. Choppers, although used in various periods, do not reflect the complexity and advancements characterized by the Middle Palaeolithic tool-making innovations. While scraper axe heads might be utilized in some form of manual processing, for the context of the Middle Palaeolithic, flake tools are the defining artifacts that illustrate the technological progression of early hominins.