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Details / Information for Axe

Axe

c. 250–900 CE

Mexico or Central America, Maya

Medium
chipped flint
Measurements
Overall: 18 cm (7 1/16 in.)
Credit Line
John L. Severance Fund 1997.170
Public Domain
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Location
233 Mesoamerican and Intermediate Region
Print

Description

Axes with stone blades and wooden hafts were used to clear land for planting. This more fragile example, made entirely of chipped flint, is a ceremonial version probably used in rituals before it was deposited in a tomb or an offering. Late Classic Maya vase paintings make the ceremonial associations of axes clear. In these painted scenes, axe-wielding deities dance among skeletons and supernatural animals, or raise the axe to strike a sacrificial victim.
A dark brown flint axe features a vertical shaft that branches into two distinct limbs. A bulbous protrusion extends horizontally to the left, while a flat-edged limb angles upward to the right. Scalloped, irregular scars from knapping cover the entire matte surface, creating a jagged, rhythmic texture. Tapering toward the base, the earthy-toned stone shows deep flaking along its hand-crafted edges, highlighting its asymmetrical, sculptural form.

Axe

c. 250–900 CE

Mexico or Central America, Maya

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