MAYA WEAPON KNIFE - MAYANS ARE GENIUS

LATE PRE-CLASSIC TO TERMINAL CLASSIC PERIOD:  250 BC - 900 AD

Of all the ancient cultures of the Americas, no civilization has held more intrigue and secrets for so long as that of the Mayans.  In 1960, their language code of glyphs was finally deciphered and forever changed our view of what we initially thought was a peaceful and harmonious society.  On the contrary, the Mayan Culture was bathed in the blood of vicious warfare and astounding levels of human sacrifice.  Their technology was so advanced it is no wonder many believe they received intelligence from extra-terrestrials.  Despite our recent discoveries of Mayan mathematics, astronomy and calendar technology, the Mayans still leave us with many mysteries.  One is their surreal and bizarre lithic culture.  The Mayan Culture is the only ancient flint-knapping civilization that ever existed anywhere that produced two types of unique stone objects - the giant MAYAN STEMMED MACRO BLADES and the mysterious chipped objects of unrivalled craftsmanship known as MAYAN ECCENTRICS.  The massive Mayan macro blades are believed to have been used both in daily life and warfare, but are also found in ritual use such as burials and "elite class" caches.  As for the Mayan eccentrics, to this day, scientists have no explanation for their purpose nor the meaning of many of their shapes. 

This is a genuine LARGE MAYAN STEMMED MACRO BLADE fashioned between 1100 and 2250 years ago from chert.  It was made of a very fine gray Colha BANDED gray chert and is in magnificent COMPLETE condition.  Stunningly well-formed symmetry and uncommonly sharp and well-shaped tip.  It possesses the highly skilled artistry of the ancient Mayan craftsman.  Extensive use shown by secondary flaking plainly visible down the cutting edges on both sides!  Beautiful banded pattern in the chert add to this overall beauty.  Large and with original sediment deposits still attached.  This fine COMPLETE specimen is 'as found' and features NO MODERN DAMAGE, NO REPAIR and NO RESTORATION.  

The Maya had an abundant supply of high quality chert in large nodules and slabs.  This, coupled with skilled craftsmanship led to the development of massive core struck blades.  MAYAN STEMMED MACRO BLADES were struck from skillfully prepared large cores.  After the blade was struck, a "handle" was formed on the proximal end by secondary retouching.  In many cases, the blades are unifacial with bifacial retouching on the stem.  Some blades are found as fresh as they day they were struck while others display wear on the edges suggesting they were used as hand-held knives.  A highly advanced industry produced these blades with dedicated workshops.  Over 100 such workshops have been identified in Colha, Belize, a site of extensive chert outcroppings and ample water supply.  Large macro blade lacking stems or points were first produced by the Maya in the ARCHAIC PERIOD in Northern Belize near Belize City.  By the EARLY to MID PRE-CLASSIC PERIOD during 1500 BC - 250 BC, some blades were being fashioned with points.  At the end of their production in the TERMINAL CLASSIC PERIOD in 900 AD, the stemmed blades became smaller and were adapted for use on the end of atlatl throwing spears.  It was the invention of the highly effective atlatl that ushered in unprecedented carnage in Mayan warfare and facilitated their demise.

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Our understanding of the fascinating MAYAN CULTURE was completely wrong and misinterpreted until as recent as the 1960, when major achievements were made in the deciphering of their glyph language.  Elaborately designed ceremonial cities lacking any obvious defenses initially led us to believe that the Mayans were a peaceful theocracy living in ideal harmony with their environment and each other.  We could not have been further from the truth.  Lowland city-states lived in constant warfare with one another and the thirst of their gods for human blood and sacrifice seemed impossible to satiate. 

Archaeologists divide the Mayan Culture into different periods - LATE PRE-CLASSIC / PROTO-CLASSIC (300 BC - 300 AD), EARLY CLASSIC (300 AD - 600 AD), LATE CLASSIC (600 AD - 830 AD), TERMINAL CLASSIC (830 AD - 950 AD).  The earliest days of the Maya date back to 2000 BC when small farming villages first appeared in the highlands and Pacific coastline of Guatemala.  Crops such as corn, squash and beans made up the staple of their diet and are believed to have been brought from previous migration through Mexico.  The Maya pottery styles were unique to the early Maya settlements, though.  By 1000 BC, villages sprang up in the lowland regions.  The Maya lived in the same locations for centuries and in a continuous state of architectural improvement and expansion leading up to the magnificent 'super-cities' we associate with them today.  By 300 AD. full-scale cities were being built with stone featuring massive plazas, temples and pyramids reaching 20 stories high.  

It is no wonder that some believe that extra-terrestrial beings brought their knowledge to the Maya.  By 300 AD, the first inscriptions suddenly appeared in Maya sites.  These early inscriptions were so beautiful it was as if the gods had delivered it to the Mayan themselves!  Forward to 600 years later and the inscriptions cease.  The first comprehensive writing system in Pre-Columbian America was invented by the Maya.  Among the mysteries of the Maya are their amazing understanding of astronomy along with the development of an accurate calendar and mathematical system.  Their number system was based on units of 20 and included a concept of 'zero'.  

The skills of the Mayan craft are exemplified in their stone and wood carvings, flaked stone objects, pottery and personal adornment.  Much of their art centers around their devotion to a religion that is both fascinating and gory.  Blood-letting rituals were the norm and many acts of war were motivated by the capture of vast numbers of their enemies for ritual human sacrifice that would run for days on end, forming lakes of blood and fat at the bases of their stone pyramids that defy architectural explanation. 

Perhaps a lesson for us today, recent scientific analysis of the demise of the highly advanced Mayan civilization now answers the biggest mystery of all - "What ever happened to the ancient Mayans?".  Long-term high population density (500 people per square mile - the highest in the world at the time) of unbelievable proportions put a strain on their agricultural system that was impossible to sustain.  The effects of nutritional deficiencies are evident in bone and tooth analysis on graves dating to the Late Classic Period.  It is most probable that starvation put unbearable sociopolitical stress on the society to either kill each other for food or die of hunger necessitated by the technological advancement of warfare and its escalation.

MAYA WEAPON KNIFE

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