The Tarascans, also known as Purepechas, which is what they call themselves in their own language, were the main people who practiced the making of metal objects in Mesoamerica. The area they dominated was abundant in deposits of copper; at the time they used the technique of copper alloys, such as bronze (copper-tin or copper-arsenic), to produce tools and ornaments. The metallurgical technique was introduced from Central and South American regions, such as Ecuador and Colombia.
The ax was produced by casting and hammering; when the metal was molten it was poured into a mold in the form of a rectangular bar and then, to produce the cutting edge, it was cold hammered at one end of the short side. This yielded a sharp blade that was resistant to wear. It was a very common method for producing metallic objects in the Purepecha region.
The Tarascos generally used copper for making ornaments while bronze was destined for the production of tools due its high durability. Copper axes were used as money for commercial exchanges.
The Tarascans, also known as Purepechas, which is what they call themselves in their own language, were the main people who practiced the making of metal objects in Mesoamerica. The area they dominated was abundant in deposits of copper; at the time they used the technique of copper alloys, such as bronze (copper-tin or copper-arsenic), to produce tools and ornaments. The metallurgical technique was introduced from Central and South American regions, such as Ecuador and Colombia.
