![]() In fact, it cooled so quickly that it has no internal crystalline structure and is therefore classified as a mineraloid instead of a crystal. Other examples of mineraloids are Amber, Jet and Opal. Hruby, Geoffrey E.Obsidian is actually molten lava, or volcanic glass, that cooled extremely quickly. Google Books: "The Technology of Maya Civilization: Political Economy and Beyond in Lithic Studies" Zachary X. Google Books: "Obsidian Reflections: Symbolic Dimensions of Obsidian in Mesoamerica" Marc N. Google Books: "Encyclopedia of the Ancient Maya" Walter R.T. Google Books: "Ancient Maya Commerce: Multidisciplinary Research at Chunchucmil" Scott R. Eccentric flints are shaped pieces of stone that may have had a number of ritual uses. Yet another variety of item that the ancient Maya created using obsidian (and chert/flint) was what's now called the eccentric flint. (They also would make earflares with other things, one of which was jade.) Which is to say, they would make a type of earring called an earflare - or earspool - with it. The Maya also wore obsidian about their person. (But they may also have used this kind of blade for non-religious, everyday things.) Prismatic blades were what the Maya liked to use whenever they cut themselves for religious bloodletting. The prismatic blade has two cutting sides and is thin as well as a little bit curved - its style of make means that they don't need to have resharpening done. For another, they made blades, including a type known as the prismatic blade. For example, they made projectile points. The ancient Maya created a host of items with obsidian, some of which involved cutting. The communities that got the obsidian had their own workshops to make what they wanted out of the cores. The first step in this trade were workshops (which were commonly near a source of obsidian.) At these workshops, obsidian workers turned pieces of obsidian into "cores." That is, the pieces were shaped but not into anything specific. The ancient Maya obsidian trade actually went out into other parts of Mesoamerica. ![]() To 1500 AD and may have been from the Classic With this image (from the Yale UniversityĪrt Gallery,) this 6 inch blade may or may notīe Maya. Soft hammers are made of things like certain types of hardwood and antler, and so get more of the force they send out sent back into them than hard hammers, which are made of certain substances like granite.) (The difference between a soft hammer and a hard hammer is what they're made of. With percussion flaking, a person can use either a "soft hammer" or "hard hammer" - though a soft hammer is the better choice for obsidian. With pressure flaking, a person uses a sharpened piece of something like hardwood or antler to sort of press and lift pieces off of the stone. (The ancient Maya shaped shaped their chert/flint tools this way too.) These methods were pressure flaking and percussion flaking. Because of this physical feature, the Maya - and other peoples - used two methods for creating objects out of obsidian. (You may also read descriptions that say it has a conchoidal fracture.) This means that when a piece breaks off, that piece will look not entirely unlike a clam shell. When obsidian breaks, it breaks conchoidally. Shaping It: Pressure Flaking and Percussion Flaking A third known source is in southeast Guatemala and is called Ixtepeque. Another source is in the Southern Highlands and now has two names, Río Pixcaya and San Martín Jílotepeque. One is in the Motagua Valley and today, it is called El Chayal. (Archaeologists call the source area for this kind obsidian Cerro de las Navajas ("Hill of the Knives,") and they call the obsidian Green Pachuca.)Īll of the known sources of ancient Maya obsidian are in Guatemala. One source was special: the obsidian was green, and came from north of the Maya area, in the Valley of Mexico. ![]() When it comes to where they got their obsidian, archaeologists have found the Maya had more than one source. The information also says that it was made Art Gallery) states that this 9 inch longīlade may or may not be from the Maya area. The information with this image (again from ![]() The ancient Maya thought very highly of obsidian, and - though it seems that elites controlled it somewhat - everyone used it. With the right skill, this igneous substance can be worked so that its edges are incredibly sharp. ![]() (Depending on the definition, obsidian is either a rock or glass.) It is usually black and, though strong, it is also brittle. It begins with volcanoes: obsidian is a substance created when magma not only has a lot of silica in it but cools down so fast that it can't crystallize. Author's note: this post was last updated on. ![]()
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