Important Note: These images are
presented for educational, scholarly, and artistic research purposes. It is
presented as a comparative analysis of weapons from various regions of Central America,
South America, North America, and the Caribbean, providing a tool for
students and collectors alike. However, these artifacts are not presented
for sale. While some pieces shown here are in the hands of private art and
antiquities dealers - we do not condone the sale of such pieces since many have been obtained through the looting of archaeological sites, or other
unlawful means. Buyers should always do business with ethical dealers,
and insist on complete legal provinance.
Spears & Lances - Mesoamerica
Aztec Warriors Of To Battle Carrying Shields And Obsidian Bladed Spears
The tepoztopilli was a common
front-lines weapon of the Aztec military. The tepoztopilli was a pole-arm,
and to judge from depictions in various Aztec codices it was roughly the
height of a man, with a broad wooden head about twice the length of the
users' palm or shorter, edged with razor-sharp obsidian blades which were
deeply set in grooves carved into the head, and cemented in place with
bitumen or plant resin as an adhesive. This made the weapon vaguely similar
to the macuahuitl or "macana", however it had a much smaller cutting edge
and a longer handle. This gave the weapon a superior reach, but blows had to
be more carefully executed.
Halfway between a Halberd and a
spear, the tepoztopilli was equally useful for slashing and thrusting.
Conquistador Bernal Díaz del Castillo mentions that on one occasion his
armour was pierced by an Aztec lance and that only his thick cotton
underpadding saved his life.
In publishing free
websites, we rely on the help and support of
our visitors. Can you contribute to
our website? Do you have photos that
you would like to share? Can you
improve our information? Would you like
to advertise? Can you visit a
sponsor's website? Can you make a small
donation (a major portion will be given to help
protect the archaeological heritage of
Ancient America through the Society for
American Archaeology). Thank you for your visit to
www.PrecolumbianWeapons.com
PrecolumbianWeapons.com
An Ancient America Archaeology Site
Published by McGuinnessPublishing Created
by Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., Member of the Society for American
Archaeology The
information presented is believed to be correct and accurate.
However,
please let us know of any errors.
Please send comments to: wesayso
@
mcguinnesspublishing
.
com
This is a scholarly work for non-profit educational purposes.
Presented FREE to students, teachers & educators, and the public in
the interest of developing awareness of the subject and in helping
to preserve our common heritage. Some content is public
domain, some content used under "Fair Use" provision of section 107
U.S. Copyright Law. Some content from third-parties. All
third-party copyrights acknowledged. Sources credited where
possible or known. If we have not correctly credited a source
- please let us know.
Our Websites are dedicated
to:
Kyra, Mar, and the whole McFamily! Past, Present, and Future!
Past, Present, and Future - Here, There, and Everywhere! And to
friends in Spain, Costa Rica, Peru, and a Land Down Under - You know who you are!
Important Notice: Some older
McGuinnessPublishing & McGuinnessOnline web addresses no longer function. Older domain names may no
longer be for McGuinness websites due to domain snatching! However,
domain names remain trademarks of Tim McGuinness regardless of current
registration.
to
enlarge
