mayan macro blade

[jeff a]

i was lucky to get some of these when they were cheap

 

[pickaway]

Those things are wicked,bulit to kill,,,

 

[joshuaream]

i was lucky to get some of these when they were cheap

I bought a bunch of them about 20 years back when they first started coming out of Belize, and was happy when I sold them at shows for $20 a piece... I kept a few, but I should have bought more and kept more.

That's a great example, wide body examples are much rarer than the long narrow ones.

 

[SoIll]

Sweet I always wondered how they struck those big flakes off. Anybody know?

Joshua, I would've bought them all day long at $20. lol

 

[Bluesy]

Wow, that could do some damage! Great piece, thanks for sharing.

 

[Tnmountains]

Here a couple that were featured in a time life article a friend has. Nice one Jeff. They were true killers

 

[ohioaxeman]

i thought the thread said micro not macro... lol... nice pieces

 

[Adena_man]

That one could definitely do some damage!

 

[stansknives]

Those are AWESOME! After all, they were made by the best flintknappers in the world! Stan

 

[joshuaream]

Those are AWESOME! After all, they were made by the best flintknappers in the world! Stan

It's funny, some Mayan stuff is amazing quality, but over all once they mastered core/blade technology the average tool was very basic (very little bifacial work, little pressure flaking, etc.)

Here are are a few examples of their better work from Copan Honduras. I bribed the guard to open the case and got to handle these, amazing work.

 

[stansknives]

Thats what Im talking about. The BEST flintknappers in the world, "Hands Down"!!! Thanks, Stan Payne

 

[jeff a]

Those are AWESOME! After all, they were made by the best flintknappers in the world! Stan

It's funny, some Mayan stuff is amazing quality, but over all once they mastered core/blade technology the average tool was very basic (very little bifacial work, little pressure flaking, etc.)

Here are are a few examples of their better work from Copan Honduras. I bribed the guard to open the case and got to handle these, amazing work.

i saw a special on nat geo about those blades not to long ago,amazing pieces

 

[naturegirl]

So once they "mastered the technique", made it quickly, effectively and simply(?), they spent more time on more creative efforts? The complex knapping we see on this forum,, is effort, ALL effort being used on a point? Then once they got the hang of it, ....Ok, knock it out quick, and move on..... the "mastering", complex, effort went to the images you've shared? Oh yeah, thanks for sharing those!

ng

 

[abarnard]

Those are flippin huge blades. Really cool, what do they typically date??

 

[jeff a]

found this info on them
http://lithiccastinglab.com/gallery-pages/2003augustmacrobladedaggerpage1.htm

 

[stansknives]

That was VERY interesting Jeff. I never learned much about their blades. I will have to share that link with my wife. Thanks again, Stan

 

[Tnmountains]

So once they "mastered the technique", made it quickly, effectively and simply(?), they spent more time on more creative efforts? The complex knapping we see on this forum,, is effort, ALL effort being used on a point? Then once they got the hang of it, ....Ok, knock it out quick, and move on..... the "mastering", complex, effort went to the images you've shared? Oh yeah, thanks for sharing those!

ng

As people settled and quit wandering and learned to cultivate crops there was time for artistic craftsmanship. When you were hungry any rock would do. But if the belly is full and you have your next meal waiting there is time for creative and social discovery.
TnMtns

 

[stansknives]

Well thought of comment! I think heat treatment was found out PURELY accidental through points being cooked in the animals and having the "Classic" POK marks in them from the fire. I have dozens of these in my collection. Anyone else got a theory? I cant think of another. Stan

 

[creek astronaut]

killer flint jeff a

 

[stansknives]

Great artifacts!!!!! Thanks again for sharing! Stan