Mayan+Tools

MAYAN TOOLS It is truly remarkable looking at the achievements and architecture that the Mayans accomplished. What's more incredible is the type of tools they used to accomplish these feats as well as do everyday activities. They used a stone tool technology involving many types of clovis points, microblades and macroblades (Figure 1). Many tools were made out of obsidian and basalt sediment, but in some areas where resources were short, we find evidence of ivory, bone, and chert stone tools. [1][2] the mayan are awsome quisi

Some tools found in northern Belize were made of a more fragile sediment because good raw materials were harder to come by. They were bifacially worked and show signs that they were used for woodcutting and other agricultural activities due to trace amounts of soil found etched in them. Other stone tools like the ones found in Figure 2 were axe heads used for building structures, chopping wood, and slash-and-burn agriculture. They constructed their buildings from easily quarried limestone, because it hardens after prolonged exposure to the air. This was perfect for their stone technology and explains why they could build the massive pyramids and religious centers they did. [1][2] At a site in Guatemala called Los Tapiales, excavators have found many basalt Clovis stone tools. The variety includes fluted points, bifaces, scrapers, blades, and burins for shaving bone. A small temporary camp of hunters was said to have lived here and hunted large game for food. Along with Clovis points, there have also been "fishtail" points discovered. These are triangular shaped with fluted and slightly splayed stems. Lowe points were also very popular among the Maya (Figure 3). They were usually put on the "business end" of a spear and used for hunting large animals. [1][2]  The Mayas' favorite stone tool of choice would have to be anything made from obsidian. Obsidian to the Maya would be equivalent to the production of steel for modern civilization. They used obsidian to make finer blades such as knives, lance and dart points, and blades for woodworking and shaving. They gathered these sediments from the volcanic regions of Guatemala and the more mountainous regions of Belize. They also used these harder stone tools to create //manos // and //metates //. These functioned to grind up maize dough for food and were essential to Mayan society. [2]

Further Pages Related to this Topic: Mayan Warfare: Paige Douglas Egyptian Warfare: Victoria Sinnott Mayan Trade: Max Seidita

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// Sources //  C. Lohse, Jon. // Archaic Origins of the Lowland Maya. //Latin American Antiquity. 21:3. September, 2010 __ Page __: 312:352 < [|A239168045&docType=GALE&role=]> [1] D. Coe, Michael. __ The Maya __. 8th ed. New York: Thames & Hudson, 2011. Print. [2]  Photo 1 by: []  <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Photo 2 by: []  <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Photo 3 by: [|A239168045&docType=GALE&role=]