A Biface in the Land of Unifaces: Technological Aspects of an Extraordinary Artifact from Northeastern Brazil

The Brazilian Northeast is renowned for its unifacial lithic tools, commonly known as “slugs” (lesmas), which are the most emblematic artifacts of the region's archaeology and are associated with the Itaparica technocomplex. Although bifacial tools have also been documented in the area, there remains limited information regarding their technological, structural, and functional characteristics. In this study, we present techno-structural data and macro use-wear analysis of a large foliated bifacial tool made of quartzite from southern Piauí State, Brazil, aiming to determine its production methods and potential functioning. Additionally, we discuss its techno-cultural implications for the archaeology of Northeastern Brazil.