A tool making technique developed in the Upper Paleolithic as a further refinement in shaping brittle-flaking rock artifacts. After preliminary shaping by percussion flaking, they often finished a tool with pressure flaking. They used a hard pointed object, like the tip of a deer antler, to literally push off flakes in the final shaping and thinning process. This resulted in small, regular flake scars and much greater control in determining the shape of the final product. Pressure flaking was also used to retouch, or sharpen, sharp edges.