Mayan Stemmed Macro Blades Page 1

PAGE 1
STEMMED
MACRO BLADES
MAYA CULTURE--LATE PRECLASSIC TO TERMINAL CLASSIC PERIODS
BELIZE
250 B.C. TO A.D. 900
PAGE 1 OF 4 PAGES
COPYRIGHT AUGUST 31, 2003 PETER A. BOSTROM

STEMMED MACRO BLADES
MAYA CULTURE---BELIZE
PRIVATE COLLECTION

ABSTRACT:

STEMMED
MACRO BLADES
BELIZE
LATE PRECLASSIC TO

TERMINAL CLASSIC PERIOD

This article illustrates and describes several Maya culture stemmed macro blades from the country of Belize. These unique dagger-like artifacts were made of Colha chert. The source of Colha chert is located in the lowlands of northern Belize where it outcrops to the surface with in a large geological formation. Stemmed macro blades were used as knives and to tip the ends of thrusting spears. They were also used by the "elite" class of Maya society in ritual caches. They date from the Late Preclassic period to the Terminal Classic period of Maya history from 250 B.C. to A.D. 900.

"The most remarkable items in the lithic assemblage from El Pozito (northern Belize) are the stemmed macro blades.....".---1991, T. Hester, H. Shafer & T. Berry, Technological & Comparative Analyses of the Chipped Stone Artifacts from El Pozito, Belize, p. 74 from "Maya Stone Tools, Selected papers from the Second Maya Lithic Conference."

STEMMED
MACRO BLADES
MAYA CULTURE
250 B.C. TO A.D. 900

In all the world, there are no stone artifacts quite like the Mayan stemmed macro blades from northern Belize. They are remarkable for their large size, prolific numbers and manufacturing technique. The lithic industry that created them was formed around three key elements. They had an endless source of easily accessible high quality chert, a good supply of fresh water and skilled Mayan flintsmiths. Macro blade production in the Mayan lowlands of northern Belize began about 2,250 years ago.

CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGE TRIPLE IMAGE
STEMMED MACRO BLADE
BELIZE
LATE PRECLASSIC TO TERMINAL CLASSIC PERIODS
250 B.C. TO A.D. 900

This stemmed macro blade was probably collected in northern Belize. The right side of the picture shows the single smooth flake scar that resulted when the blade was detached from the core. The other side (left) shows three blade removals that were struck off the core before this blade was detached. The edges near the point were pressure flaked to form the point. Other edge flaking and "nicking" may be from use wear which is evidence that this stemmed macro blade may have been used as a knife. The handle is bifacially flaked which removed the bulb-of-percussion. There is also a surface patina that appears to have been formed by water. It may have been found in a river. This stemmed macro blade is made of Colha chert and it measures 8 13/16 inches (22.4 cm) long and 3 inches (7.6 cm) wide.

Today, one of the largest surviving Native American groups in this hemisphere are represented by the descendants of the ancient Maya people. A least 30 different dialects of the Maya language are still spoken in parts of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and Honduras. More than 2 million Maya still live in the same regions as their ancestors did 4,000 years ago. Some have moved to the industrialized cities but more are living just as their ancestors did in traditional villages. The foundation of Mayan civilization began about 4,500 years ago when people migrated to the jungle lowlands clearing land for agriculture.

CONTINUE ON TO PAGE TWO

"REFERENCES"

1965, Willey, Gordon R., Bullard, William R., Glass, John B & Gifford, James C., "Prehistoric Maya Settlements in the Belize Valley," pp. 412, 416-418.
1983, Shafer, Harry J., "Pulltrouser Swamp," The Lithic Artifacts of the Pulltrouser Area: Settlements and Fields. pp.231-233.
1984, Hester, Thomas R. & Shafer, Harry J., "World Archaeology," Exploitation of Chert Resources by the Ancient Maya of Northern Belize, Central America, pp. 157-169.
1986, Hester, Thomas R. & Shafer, Harry J., "The Organization of Core Technology," Observations on Ancient Maya Core Technology At Colha, Belize, pp. 239-257.
1987, Lewenstein, Suzanne M., "Stone Tool Use At Cerros, The Ethnoarchaeological and Use-Wear Evidence," pp. 138,139, 177.
1991, Hester, Thomas R., Shafer, Harry J., Berry, Thena," Maya Stone Tools," Selected Papers from the Second Maya Lithic Conference, Technological and Comparative Analyses of the Chipped Stone Artifacts from El Pozito, Belize, pp. 67-82
1991, Shafer, Harry J., "Maya Stone Tools," Selected Papers from the Second Maya Lithic Conference, Late Preclassic Formal Tool Production at Colha, Belize, pp. 31-38.
1996, Fagan, Brian M., "The Oxford Companion To Archaeology", pp. 406, 407, 413.
1997, Hester, Thomas R. & Shafer, Harry J., "Craftsmen to the Kings," Rural Maya Stone Technology at Colha, Belize, pages 1-8.
1986-1997, Personal communications with Tomas R. Hester.

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