Differential cross sections and photon beam asymmetries for π0 photoproduction have been measured at Eγ=1.5–2.4 GeV and at the π0 scattering angles, −1<cosΘc.m.<−0.6. The energy-dependence of differential cross sections for u-channel π0 production has been determined. An enhancement at backward angles is found above Eγ=1.9 GeV. This is likely to be due to u-channel diagrams. Photon beam asymmetries have been obtained for the first time at backward angles, showing a strong angular dependence at Eγ>2.0 GeV.