FINEST LARGE PRE-COLUMBIAN INCA PIERCED COPPER BRONZE WAR AXE *PC653

Product Description

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This remarkable MUSEUM-CLASS flared head pierced copper battle axe is a rare, FUNCTIONAL prestige weapon of the Inca Empire of Pre-Columbian South America.  The wide rounded cutting head has a thick, heavy body that has a large hole in the back end where it would have been inserted into a thick wooden shaft handle, and a retainer pin inserted through the hole in the handle. This spectacular specimen is complete with no damage, and has the absolute finest light emerald glue- green ancient encrustation layer over a dark copper oxide underlying patina.

Copper tools were scarce, rare and costly for Inca warriors and this was a weapon only carried by elite, noble-class warriors.  Such an axe would have been a feared, deadly weapon, able to kill an enemy with a single blow to the head, or even inflict fatal cutting wounds to limbs or the body.  The weight is something that must be felt to appreciate - it is one of the heaviest copper Inca battle axe types that were used.  The preservation on this exquisite specimen is absolutely the finest you could ask for!  This will be a highly-cherished addition to the most discriminating collectors of ancient weapons and Pre-Columbian militaria.  

An incredible ancient Inca Empire noble-class FUNCTIONAL combat axe that is breath-taking to hold, and in every way, cannot be improved upon!

This artifact has  been professionally cleaned and conserved in our lab, being treated with a special sealer developed and formulated by us specifically for ancient metal preservation.  The patina shows beautiful traits only found in authentic ancient weapons such as a layered mineralized patina with encrustations.  

WARNING:  There is an increasing number of fake "ancient" metal weapons on the market.  As fine quality intact, original specimens become more scarce and techniques have become more sophisticated to fake these weapons.  We have personally handled numerous extremely well-done fakes with extremely convincing patinas.  The degree to which the fakers have been able to replicate patina to disguise their work requires an expert examination by highly experienced individuals.  It is common to find very reasonably priced weapons that are made up of part original and part modern components or wholly modern pieces displaying elaborate artificial patinas.  All purchases should include from the dealer a written guarantee of authenticity with unconditional and lifetime return policies regarding such guarantee. 

HISTORY

Starting in the beginning of the 13th century A.D. until their final defeat to the Spanish in 1572, the Inca Empire grew to become the largest empire in Pre-Columbian America.  Their peak was between the years 1438 and 1533 where they ruled an area as large as the historical empires of Eurasia.  Their territory included Peru, southwest Ecuador, western and south central Bolivia, northwest Argentina, the majority of modern Chile, and southwest Colombia, controlled from their center in the city of Cusco in southeastern Peru.

A number of religious cults existed in the empire with regional beliefs but the Incan leadership practiced the worship of their main sun god, INTI.  The Incas considered their king, the Sapa Inca, to be the "son of the sun.".

Despite the Incas building one of the largest imperial states in human history, they lacked many basic inventions.  They had no wheeled vehicles, did not use animals for transportation or pulling plows, had no knowledge of iron or steel, and used no form of writing.  The Inca Empire functioned largely without money or markets, instead using the barter system for the exchange of goods and services.  In light of this, they were far from being a primitive society.  The Incas built monumental stone architecture that to this day, still defies explanation.  They also developed an extensive system of roads and highways reaching all ends of the empire.  Their achievements in finely-woven textiles are legendary, and they developed innovations in farming and architecture in the extreme terrain of the Andes where most civilizations would have never dared occupy.