From very ancient times Mesoamerican men practiced making sharp stone tools such as projectile heads, knives or axes. Flint, or chert, and obsidian, a volcanic glass, are two preferably used materials for this purpose in this cultural area. Flint is a very common material in the Mayan lowlands and obsidian is found in the volcanic areas of the Central Highlands and the Highlands of Guatemala.
We know that the ancient Mesoamericans used three techniques, direct and indirect percussion and pressure to produce the stone knives. The preparation process is as follows: first the central part of the core is obtained by removing excess material through direct or indirect percussion with a stone striker, or other materials, until a required shape remains: flat, wide and thin. A tool is then placed directly on the edges of the stone and slowly pressed until the chip falls off. Thus a sharp cutting edge is obtained. Knives were sharpened to be used several times, apart from everyday practice, in rituals, especially human sacrifices, and they have also been found as offerings.
From very ancient times Mesoamerican men practiced making sharp stone tools such as projectile heads, knives or axes. Flint, or chert, and obsidian, a volcanic glass, are two preferably used materials for this purpose in this cultural area. Flint is a very common material in the Mayan lowlands and obsidian is found in the volcanic areas of the Central Highlands and the Highlands of Guatemala.
