![]() ![]() While often called a “sword,” the macuahuitl was more like a hybrid between that and the spiked/bladed clubs that preceded it. One other factor in the spread of prismatic blades was the growing centrality of the macuahuitl in Mesoamerican warfare. There is no clear explanation for this shift, and it could include factors as diverse as lack of consistent obsidian supply, competition from other forms of blade and tool making, and sumptuary control of prismatic blades as elite items. Prior to this, weaponry had employed various kinds of stone points as well as other sharp objects (e.g., shark teeth), but the production of prismatic blades really took off in the Postclassic. While present and common enough throughout the history of Mesoamerica, it was not until the Postclassic period starting around 900 CE that this form of stone tool became the dominant form of blade used throughout the region (Healan 2009). Obsidian is a superb material for making these items. Like the microblades described above, prismatic blades were flaked off a core, but these were typically larger in size and were ideally shaped like a long, flat trapezoid with razor sharp parallel edges. One of the distinctive technologies of Mesoamerica was the use of prismatic blades. One of these peaks, in the chain of mountains separating the valleys of Mexico and Puebla, is still active and goes by the Nahuatl name Popocatepetl, which literally translates to “Smoking Mountain.”Īrchaic Mesoamericans were quick to adopt the plethora of obsidian into their toolkit. The highest mountains in Mexico today are a mix of dormant and active volcanoes. Central Mexico, as a volcanically active region, has abundant sources of obsidian. ![]() The properties of obsidian, however, make it an excellent material for creating blades from cores. Microblades are not exclusive to obsidian, but can be created from any number of crystalline or vitreous rock. By applying pressure to the edge of a larger “core” stone, a blade the length of the core can be flaked off and then used by itself or attached to a haft. In the late Pleistocene, the major innovation was the use of microblades. Rather than devising high temperature kilns to melt these rocks, they instead innovated numerous techniques to maximize the cutting edge and durability of their materials. Humans in the past very astutely recognized the properties of obsidian and other stones used to make tools. Smaller knives of obsidian were made and used, but a long “sword” of obsidian thin and light enough wield would very quickly snap and shatter. Also, while obsidian is fairly hard and can produce extraordinary sharp edges, it is a brittle material. Obsidian produces excellent blades by simply fracturing the stone. Melting and then casting obsidian would be a tremendous waste of time and materials. Casting molten obsidian can also be done, but the real question is why would anyone do such a thing? It does, after all, start life as molten lava which then rapidly cools, producing the glass-like substance in question here. The art pictures above show drawings in the Spanish Codices for correct scale of size and manner of wielding.Obsidian can be melted to a liquid state. These obsidian pieces were made in the traditional manner, hand knapped from prepared real obsidian blade cores. This is a model in between with core blades that are pressure flaked to square shape, so that they are sharp the way that arrowheads are sharp, rather than raw flake surgical scalpel level sharp. This is the model we have chosen to make here, which is the type seen most often in the Spanish drawings. Other types were made with larger bifaced squares. There are several styles that can be found depicted in the descriptions, and many of these are made from long thin Obsidian blades made from prepared cores. This model is 30 inches long, The main club or paddle is made in Central American Bloodwood, and is grooved to fit the glued in Obsidian flakes. This and other types are seen in the Codex Mendoza, the Codice Tudela and the Codex Ixtlilxochitl in the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris, France. ![]() There are few surviving fragments, but during this time of Conquest the Spanish drew many descriptions which are available for study today. This replica showcases one of the deadliest prehistoric combat weapons known, the Macuahuitl, or Obsidian war club, or sword. This weapon had its origin in Pre-Columbian Meso-America, and was at its height of use during the Spanish conquest of the 1500's.
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