RARE INCA PRE-COLUMBIAN PERFORATED STONE WAR AXE *PC629

Product Description

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This is a VERY RARE, functional pierced polished stone war axe of the Pre-Columbian Inca empire.  Ground and polished from a very dense hardstone, it is sizable and functional, with a compressed cross-sectional profile allowing for a sharp edge.  Without question, a single blow to the skull with this axe would have been able to puncture the bone causing a fatal injury.  While many stone war axes of this culture were more designed to break bones, this example has a thin enough edge that it could have severed or punctured its victims when the blade was sharpened.  In its current state, it is complete but with several areas showing actual combat wear and use.  Of the small collection of Incan stone war axes we acquired from this very old 1950's collection, this was the the only war axe of its kind that had actual cutting / chopping ability.  

An identical example (Type T) of this axe can be seen in this page and diagram of the book at this link.  This specimen is complete with some combat damage i various areas.  This is known to be ancient because the intact mineral deposits in the damage surfaces go deep in all microscopic crevices, and is identical to all other deposits on the axe in other regions.  Because of its size and weight, a substantial hole was drilled in the side to securely affix this axe to a large wooden shaft handle.  The blade end shows extensive combat use.  Mounted on a wooden shaft handle, its size would have made it quite a visually intimidating weapon as much as it was effective! 

In complete original condition, this hardstone axe displays no modern grinding marks, and upon microscopic examination, has its entire surface impacted with ancient mineral deposits in all micro-crevices - traits only seen in authentic ancient stone.  

This is such an impressive weapon and a prize acquisition for any advanced collection featuring a complete array of Pre-Columbian weapons and war items.

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.