Ancient Inca Axe Head, South America,Peru (1866BAL) $525

Description

Although raw metals were found in nature and hammered into desired metalwork objects, no evidence of melting, smelting and casting has been found in North America prior to the 15th-century arrival of Europeans. Yet, two Andean South America sites in or close to Peru were active about 800-500BCE. The Incas were highly skilled with metalwork and made weapons, tools and adornments using bronze/copper alloys, silver and gold. Mesoamerican Incan civilization emerged in the 13^th century and by the 15^th century, it was an advanced empire centered in Cuzco in modern-day Peru until and decimated by the Spanish in 1572 especially due to illness brought by Spaniards as well as rebellions by local tribes. This strong, thick, substantial yet relatively light T-shaped Inca copper alloy bronze axe head has considerable wear on one side. Scholars describe these pieces as a classic weapon of the Inca Empire centered in Cuzco, Peru. Bronze axe heads were a very valuable and versatile tool. Their wide T-like top made them tight and durable when secured to a thick wooden handle and their strength and thickness also made them a very useful chopping and digging tool. This one has a fine patina and is very worn on one side attesting to its age and use. It has no restorations or repairs.

Sources

Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inca_army#Weapons

wikipeda, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metallurgy_in_pre-Columbian_America

Wikipedia, https://www.ancient.eu/Inca_Art/