Search Results: Obsidian

Obsidian is a dark volcanic glass which provides the sharpest cutting edge available in nature. Ancient Mesoamerican cultures greatly esteemed the properties of obsidian, and it was widely traded across the region. Obsidian was used to create...

These tool were probably used for cutting and chopping. Obsidian is a naturally occurring volcanic glass and is not local to Mesopotamia. It was most likely imported from modern Afghanistan. These tools were found at Tell Shemshara (modern...

This piece of obsidian dates from the Paleolithic period or c. 18000 BCE, and it was uncovered in Engarau-cho on Japan's Hokkaido island. It helped prehistoric Japanese people in making stone tools. (Tokyo National Museum)

Two blocks of unworked obsidian from Guatemala. Obsidian was highly valued throughout ancient Mesoamerica for its cutting edge and polished lustre.

A circular obsidian mirror from ancient Mesoamerica. Aztec, 1325-1521. Width: 10 inches /26 cm. (British Museum, London)

An obsidian blade from Teotihuacan, Mexico. Length 10.5 inches (26.5 cm). (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York)

An obsidian flake from Tikal, Guatemala which has been incised with a representation of a Maya god. Height: 9 cm / 3.5 in. 250-900 CE. (British Museum, London)

The Tarascan civilization (aka the Purépecha, after their language) dominated western Mexico and built an empire that would bring it into direct conflict with that other great Mesoamerican civilization of the Post-classic period, the Aztecs...

The Olmec civilization, located in ancient Mexico, prospered in Pre-Classical (Formative) Mesoamerica from c. 1200 BCE to c. 400 BCE. Monumental sacred complexes, massive stone sculptures, ball games, the drinking of chocolate, and animal...

Teotihuacan, located in the Basin of Central Mexico, was the largest, most influential, and most revered city in the history of the New World. It flourished in Mesoamerica's Golden Age, the Classic Period of the first millennium CE. Dominated...