Waste flakes are described, classified, and studied like other categories of archaeological data. They are especially useful for understanding the character of lithic technology, since these reflect the nature of the specific technology involved in their production. For example, lithic debitage derived from the manufacture of arrow points is distinctive from that associated with dart or spear point manufacture. Since waste materials are usually left right where tools were made, they can sometimes be more meaningful than finished projectile points for understanding a particular site's function. Like other stone artifacts, these also may often be sourced, providing clues about trade systems and exchange patterns in prehistory. Lithic debitage in archaeological sites can be used to evaluate intensity of use, integrity of the archaeological deposits, and other important questions.

Lithic scatters are archaeological sites that consist solely of flaked stone artifacts, principally lithic debitage. Sites of this type are often analyzed statistically using measurements of raw material percentages, density of artifacts, and technological forms.