Abstract: As a branch of prehistory and anthropology research, lithic technological study has been initiated in France since 1940s. Based on the concept "chane opratoire"some improved theoretical system and methods have been well established so far. According to many representative French researchers' work in this field, the authors divide the history of technological study in France into three phases of foundation, development and achievement in a brief review of sixty years. Among them the concept / cha ne op ratoire0 proposed by Andr LEROI-GOURHAN became the cornerstone of lithic technology study, then the two concepts / d bitage0 and / fa onnage0 have been defined and differentiated by Jacques TIXIER etc. in the second phase. They both further perfected the connotation of / cha ne op ratoire0. Then the concept / operational scheme0 presented and applied by Eric BO. DA in the last phase is an important symbol as a new method of study for discussing technological logic and rules of lithic production and for the study of lithic techno-function. Finally combining with the history and actual situation of Chinese Paleolithic research, the authors make a short discussion here about the possibility of how to apply the current French technological theory and methods to the Chinese materials.

Key words: Cha ne op ratoire; Operational scheme; D bitage; Fa onnage