细石叶是旧石器时代晚期至青铜时代复合工具的组成部分，在古人类狩猎和动植物加工活动中发挥着重要作用。对细石叶的功能开展研究是探索旧石器时代遗址功能、古人类生计模式和古人群迁徙扩散的重要途径。本文通过梳理细石叶功能研究的相关文献，从石器功能的研究方法入手，归纳总结典型案例，并概括这些研究对分析细石叶技术的起源和传播、遗址功能、古人类适应环境的行为及生计模式的改变等方面所起的作用。目前，细石叶功能研究在实验考古、微痕和残留物分析等领域已取得一定进展，提取到细石叶用于狩猎、加工肉类、采集和收割植物、钻孔、刻槽等活动的考古学证据。目前的相关研究存在标本抽样方法和分析手段有待细化、实验和研究案例较少以及研究方法有局限性等问题。未来对细石叶功能的研究仍需以考古学问题为导向，在模拟实验、微痕和残留物分析的定量化方面做出努力，在更多遗址和地区开展细石叶的功能研究，并结合遗址出土的其他材料和古环境背景做出有关人类行为的考古学阐释。

A microblade is a flake pressed from a prepared microcore with straight ridges on the dorsal surface, and characterized by parallel sides. The length of the microblade is generally more than twice its width. Study of the function of microblades is an important way to explore the function of Paleolithic and Neolithic sites, livelihood patterns of ancient humans, and migration and dispersal of human populations. Through efforts of scholars in recent decades, research on the function of microblades has achieved some results. It is generally believed that the functional use of microblades is found at the tip and edge, with the object of action to be mainly animal remains, or possible hunting, processing meat, etc. Some microblades were used directly to process plant materials through collecting and harvesting as ancient humans may have used plant resources as a supplement to meat. A few microblades were used for drilling, grooving, or other processing.

In the early 20^th century, Nels C. Nelson and other scholars first discovered remains of microblade cores and microblade during scientific investigations on the Mongolian plateau. The spread of this technology in Northeast Asia and North America involves the transformation of livelihood and behavioral patterns of hominins during the Last Glacial Period. After years of exploration, scholars have made a series of researches on source, type, production process and other aspects of microblade technology, but technical research is weak in terms of how ancient humans adapted to the harsh ecological environments of the Last Glacial Period often involving migration and diffusion of people.

Combining studies of relevant literature of microwear and residue analysis, these studies have assessed the origin and spread of microblade technology, determination of site function and modes of adaptation to environmental change of environment, etc. At the same time, there are still problems in this research including sampling and analysis methods, few experiments and research cases, and limitations in usewear and residue research. On this basis, it is suggested that future research on microblade function should be guided by archeological problems, increasing quantitative experimental research including usewear and residue analysis. Further study of microblades in multiple regions should be carried out and interpretations in the context of site background.