Backed Knife

[uniface]

Backed tools are an artifact class. These have the sides opposite the cutting edge napped/ground blunt, have cortex there or, like this one, are tranchet flaked at a 90-degree angle. The intention behind this is to be able to really bear down without risking the hand damage a sharp edge could cause. This one is of Camden chert from western Tennessee.

 

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[uniface]

We always called these hoof scrapers. This one is unifaced with the rind still attached.

Here is the worked side.
View attachment 1910455

Here is the back side.

View attachment 1910456

Imagine it would be a good hide scraper today even. Also this a a pretty large tool.

View attachment 1910457

A Horse Hoof Core, for sure. And an especially nice one !

 

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[uniface]

I found something g a while ago similar. Thought failed tool in production. Could this be what you are talking about. Quartzite. Thin side could slice skin. Super sharp.
Thanks Chris

Thanks Chris

If the edge shows signs of having been used, that's another one you've found.

 

[southfork]

A couple from out west .

 

[uniface]

The beautiful milky Quartz one, definitely.

Key is is not just a flat edge, but a flat(tened) edge directly opposite the working edge.

 

[southfork]

The beautiful milky Quartz one, definitely.

Key is is not just a flat edge, but a flat(tened) edge directly opposite the working edge.

Bad angle on my camera but they all have a flat edge opposite the working edge

 

[MAMucker]

I believe I’ve posted this before.
Here’s a piece that I’ve been calling a chopper. It is clearly a large and beautiful blade of some type.
I found it in rough gravel along the overhead power-lines in Middleborough, MA.
One edge is razor sharp. The opposite is roughly worked and ground smooth.
General shape is square. Quartz is hard to capture, but here goes:

 

[uniface]

WOW !

 

[MAMucker]

WOW !

I realize it doesn’t fit the ‘Backed Knife’ type in this thread, but your post got me thinking about this one again.

 

[southfork]

I realize it doesn’t fit the ‘Backed Knife’ type in this thread, but your post got me thinking about this one again.

It fits perfectly it has a flat edge and a sharp edge . Made for larger animals like when fleshing a hairy elephant .

 

[uniface]

I realize it doesn’t fit the ‘Backed Knife’ type in this thread, but your post got me thinking about this one again.

If the edge opposite the working edge is as smooth as it looks, it would be one.

FWIW

 

[MAMucker]

It fits perfectly it has a flat edge and a sharp edge . Made for larger animals like when fleshing a hairy elephant .

Yes, (keep it simple stupid, Haha). That Backed knife would be VERY effective in fleshing a large animal.

 

[uniface]

Another one -- a "D-Knife" with cortex backing from Kentucky.

 

[Charl]

Quartz spall...



Cortex platform for index finger rest...






According to Louis Brennan’s “Artifacts of Prehistoric America”(1975), which I have long felt is one of the best books for illustrating crude artifacts, the stages of production of many classes of artifacts, and types of artifacts many of us find, but very few guides even discuss, backed knives “are heavy-duty, one-edged knives usually made on thick spalls. The side opposite the edge is broad, often unmodified pebble cortex, as a hand rest and hand grip. The edges usually show strenuous use. The backing allows the user to put considerable pressure on the grip as he cuts through hard material.”(page 90)

Here are the examples of backed knives that Brennan illustrated:

 

[uniface]

Textbook example !

 

[uniface]

Paleo site in Coshocton County, Ohio. Alan Harbuck.

 

[uniface]

A cruder one from the same source:



Backing platform:



As used: