BACKED BLADE (KNIFE)
Backed blades are one of the most common blade tools made during the European Upper Paleolithic. They were made by steeply trimming one edge of a blade by pressure flaking. This design allowed the user to apply pressure against the blunted edge with an index finger for cutting with the opposite sharp edge. Experiments have shown that a backed knife made of stone can skin an animal about as fast as a steel knife. |