A platform is the surface area receiving the force necessary to detach a flake or blade. It can be either natural or prepared (Crabtree 1982., 49). See cores.
There is disagreement as to whether the term platform should be restricted to use in defining the striking area of a core or whether it should also be used to describe that section of the top of a core which is retained on a flake or blade which is commonly called a butt.
In the opinion of Tixier 1974, 14 and Bordes 1961, 5 a platform should not be confused with a butt - a butt being the section of a flake, blade, or bladelet that is part of the striking platform which is detached (from the core) by the blow of the striker or by pressure flaking. Therefore, a platform would only be found on a core and a butt on a flake, blade or bladelet.