| The Macuahuitl is an ancient Aztec weapon shaped | | | | Macuahuitl was used not only in battle, but also in |
| like a sword. The Macuahuitl is made of wood, and its | | | | sacrifices to the gods. |
| sides are embedded with blades made from obsidian, | | | | In some cases, the rows of obsidian were spaced |
| a volcanic glass stone frequently used by the Aztecs | | | | apart, with gaps in between, similar to sawteeth. In |
| and other pre-Columbian cultures in the making of | | | | other versions, the rows of obsidian were placed so |
| tools. | | | | closely together that the sharp obsidian formed a |
| This weapon was commonly used by Aztec military | | | | single edge, much like a sword. Carvings found at the |
| forces and other cultures found in present-day central | | | | Mexican prehistorical site Chichen Itza depict clubs |
| Mexico. In fact, its use was so widespread that it was | | | | having separate blades sticking out from each side. In |
| noted repeatedly in notes taken during the sixteenth | | | | another carving, a warrior holds a club with many |
| century Spanish conquest, likely at the peak of the | | | | blades on one side and one sharp point on the other |
| Macuahuitl's popularity. Unfortunately, the last authentic | | | | side. Both versions are thought to be early versions of |
| Aztec Macuahuitl was destroyed in a fire in Madrid in | | | | the macuahuitl. |
| 1884. Little is known about this weapon other than | | | | Though the Macuahuitl is best known as an Aztec |
| what can be inferred by drawings or records by | | | | weapon, the idea of using obsidian to form a |
| Spanish conquistadors. | | | | sword-like blade was not new even then. Obsidian |
| The Macuahuitl was often used in combat with a | | | | used for small knives, scrapers, drills, razors, and arrow |
| chimalli, or round shield, a tlauitolli, or bow, and the atlatl, | | | | points has been found in numerous Mesoamerican |
| or spear thrower. Though it is sometimes called a | | | | cultures predating the Aztecs. Several obsidian mines |
| sword, it is not a true sword, and there is no European | | | | were located near Aztec civilizations, providing the raw |
| equivalent for this weapon. | | | | materials for these tools and weapons. |
| This weapon could be made in both one-handed and | | | | The obsidian used for the blades of these unique |
| two-handed forms. It measured three to four feet long, | | | | weapons can achieve a very sharp edge. In fact, |
| and was only about three inches wide. A groove along | | | | modern knives are only now beginning to rival the |
| each edge allowed the insertion of sharp-edged pieces | | | | possible sharpness of obsidian. Plus, it only required |
| of obsidian or, less frequently, flint. These pieces would | | | | stone-age technology for shaping, unlike modern |
| then be held securely in the groove using some sort of | | | | metals, and required absolutely no fire forging. The |
| natural adhesive. | | | | drawback, however, is that obsidian is very brittle. As a |
| Though the Machuahuitl's wooden "blade" itself was | | | | result, it cannot maintain its sharpness for very long. It |
| not sharp enough to inflict any damage, the rows of | | | | will easily chip or break, and it would have been |
| obsidian blades could cause serious lacerations. | | | | surprisingly easy to break the entire blade in half by |
| According to some accounts, it was sharp enough to | | | | accident. |
| decapitate a man, and possibly even a horse. The | | | | |