Product Description
This is a well-provenanced obsidian UNIFACIAL ATLATL POINT from the Pre-Columbian West Mexico Shaft-Tomb Culture. It is so rare in form that of a huge collection of projectile points collected from the same region, it was THE ONLY ONE OF THIS TYPE. What's more, it was one of the few UNIFACIAL pieces, which allowed it to be made very thin yet strong due to its longitudinal ridge on one side, a brilliant design feature. The edges were retouched in ancient times refining it to its exceptional shape with a barbed base. It was flaked of translucent obsidian, showing crystal clarity when held in light due in part to its thinness. The size of this spearhead indicates it would have been intended for human targets and the long cutting edges would have inflicted a lethal wound. RARELY are obsidian projectile points this symmetrical, and in this complete, undamaged state!!! Out of a large collection of these projectile points from Dr. Heflin, this was high-graded out as one of the best!
This atlatl spearhead was found in the Lake Sayula Region of Jalisco, Mexico. This projectile point comes from the famous Dr. Allen Heflin Collection, formed from his work in Mexico from 1946 into the 1970's. Obsidian projectile points from Pre-Columbian cultures are rarely preserved in this fine condition and seem to be scarcer than are realized.
Intact mineral deposits in micro-crevices are a testament to its age and lack of any modern alterations.
No lithic type is more mesmerizing and flakes as beautifully as obsidian. It was so highly prized by all the Central American Pre-Columbian cultures and for good reason. The sharpest cutting edge of any substance in the world, can only be obtained with obsidian. Obsidian is unique in that it can be flaked down to one molecule in width, hence the popularity with this incredible material in Pre-Columbian weapons and tools. Even today, obsidian scalpels are still used in modern medicine throughout the world.
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HISTORY
The Atlatl or Spear (Dart) Thrower was a weapon used to hurl darts called "tlacochtli" with greater force and from greater range than they could be thrown by hand. This weapon was considered by the Aztecs to be suited only for royalty and the most elite warriors in the army, and was usually depicted as being the weapon of the Gods. Murals at Teotihuacan show warriors using this effective weapon and it is characteristic of the Mesoamerican cultures of central Mexico. Warriors at the front lines of the army would carry the atlatl and about three to five throwing darts which they would launch after waves of arrows and sling projectiles as they advanced into battle before engaging into melee combat. The "darts" launched from an Atlatl were more like big arrows about 5.9 feet long. Tipped with obsidian, chert, bone or copper heads.