These could be knapped into blades or spikes, or into a circular design that looked like scales. It was capable of inflicting serious lacerations from the rows of obsidian blades embedded in its sides. Its sides are embedded with prismatic blades traditionally made from obsidian (volcanic glass) obsidian is capable of producing an edge sharper than high-quality steel razor blades. Other military equipment recorded includes the round shield ( chīmalli, ), the bow ( tlahuītōlli, ), and the spear-thrower ( ahtlatl, ).
It was noted during the 16th-century Spanish conquest of the region. The maquahuitl ( Classical Nahuatl: māccuahuitl, other orthographic variants include mākkwawitl and mācquahuitl plural māccuahuimeh), a type of macana, was a common weapon used by the Aztec military forces and other cultures of central Mexico. The original specimen was destroyed by a fire in 1884. The oldest replica is the macuahuitl created by the medievalist Achille Jubinal in the 19th century.ĭescription A drawing from the Catalog of the Royal Armoury of Madrid by the medievalist Achille Jubinal in the 19th century. Images of the original designs survive in diverse catalogues. One example of this weapon survived the Conquest of the Aztec Empire it was part of the Royal Armoury of Madrid until it was destroyed by a fire in 1884.
The weapon was used by different civilisations including the Aztec (Mexicas), Olmec, Maya, Mixtec, Toltec, and Tarascans. By the time of the Spanish conquest the macuahuitl was widely distributed in Mesoamerica. Use of the macuahuitl as a weapon is attested from the first millennium CE, although specimens can be found in art dating to at least pre-classic times. The macuahuitl was a standard close combat weapon. Obsidian is capable of producing an edge sharper than high quality steel razor blades. Its sides are embedded with prismatic blades traditionally made from obsidian. The name is derived from the Nahuatl language and means "hand-wood". Mesoamerican civilizations, including AztecsĪ macuahuitl ( ) is a weapon, a wooden club with several embedded obsidian blades. A modern recreation of two ceremonial macuahuitl based on codices.įormative stage to Post-Classic stage (900 BCE–AD 1570)
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