| 13 backed blades (symmetric) | Dirdidwarah |  |
| 9 bondi points (asymmetric) | Lake Illawarra NSW |  |
Backed blades can be split into two categories - symmetric (backed blades) and asymmetric (bondi points). Both types are relatively small, no longer than 6cms, and no wider than 3cms. They resemble blade-like flakes with retouch on the thicker margins.
Backed blades were often used as barbs for spears or knives, when hunting. However, they may have been used for other functions but hunting would have been the most likely. The spears would probably have consisted of one larger primary point and then surrounded by barbs which may have gone down the shaft of the spear.
The backed blades were characteristic of the small tool tradition assemblages of South East Australia. In the chart below the backed blades can be seen in the Eastern Regional Sequence. These backed blades from the collection have been dated to the last 5,000 - 6,000 years.
Implement type distribution chart
(McCarthy, 1976: p95)
(Note: although the bondi points are referred to as points they are actually a type of backed blade that have a sharp point at the end.)
