thökäleiden

Thökäleiden is a term used in some archaeological contexts, particularly in Finland, to refer to small, roughly shaped stone tools. These artifacts are typically made from local stone materials such as quartz, quartzite, or flint. Their exact function is often debated, but they are generally believed to have been used for scraping, cutting, or other basic processing tasks. Thökäleiden are often found in Mesolithic and Neolithic archaeological sites, indicating their use by prehistoric hunter-gatherer and early farming communities.

The size and form of thökäleiden can vary considerably, but they are usually hand-held and lack the refined flaking or retouching seen in more specialized stone tools like arrowheads or scrapers. This suggests they may have been expedient tools, quickly produced and used for immediate needs. Their presence in a site can be indicative of tool-making activities or the processing of raw materials.

Analysis of thökäleiden can provide insights into the lithic technology and subsistence strategies of ancient populations. Researchers examine the raw material source, manufacturing techniques, and wear patterns on the tools to understand their use and the wider economic and social context of the sites where they are found. The term itself is Finnish and reflects the regional focus of much of the research on these types of artifacts.