Lot 237C
Pre-Columbian, Mexico, Aztec Empire, ca. 1400 to 1521 CE. A collection of grey/black obsidian stone tools: four bifacial blades, three exhausted cores, four third-series blades, and one first series obsidian blade. This class of artifact is commonly known as a prismatic blade. The production of these blades was a technological feat, and they amazed the first Europeans to see the Aztec process. One Spanish priest, observing an Aztec artisan at work, said, "to see [these blades] produced from stone is a great marvel, and a thing worthy of much admiration, and the talented person who invented this art is to be greatly praised." Comes in custom case as shown. Size of largest obsidian item: Size: 2" W x 7.5" H (5.1 cm x 19 cm); size of case: Size: 2" L x 18" W x 12" H (5.1 cm x 45.7 cm x 30.5 cm)
Starting with a prepared core - a bit larger than the exhausted ones here - the knapper would sit holding it between his or her feet, and then press on it with a special wooden tool until a long flake like those small ones included here was removed. They would do this over and over again until the core was exhausted. The flattened end of each core here is from grinding, to create a flat surface upon which to set the core as it was pressure flaked.
Research into prismatic blades undertaken from the second half of the twentieth century until today has uncovered an extensive trade network not just of raw materials from mountain sources but also of prepared cores ready to be pressure flaked from intermediate trade stations. The production of obsidian blades, used for ritual bloodletting amongst other activities, seems to have been a huge economic undertaking, drawing together geographically disparate city-states through trade and tribute.
Provenance: private Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA collection, acquired before 1995
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#124768
- Condition: All are intact, with some light surface scratching.
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