Aztec Obsidian Sword

Timeline

1. c. 1200–1325Valley of Mexico · MexicoWarriors of the various city-states of the valley were commonly equipped with the macuahuitl and its variants, wooden clubs edged with obsidian blades, used together with throwing spears and shields in close combat.
2. c. 1401–1410Tenochtitlan · Valley of MexicoAt the military training grounds of Tenochtitlan and in campaigns against vassals, the macuahuitl was the core close-combat weapon of Mexica warriors, with obsidian sourced from volcanic regions such as Otumba.
3. 1428–1519Aztec conquest zone in Mesoamerica · MexicoDuring the military expansion of the Triple Alliance, eagle and jaguar warriors used the macuahuitl as their primary weapon, widely employed in Flower Wars and campaigns of conquest.
4. 1519–1521Tenochtitlan · MexicoSpanish firearms and steel armor exposed the macuahuitl's limitations against armored targets during the conquest; after the conquest the weapon died out along with the Aztec military system.