The Macuahuitl is an ancient Aztec weapon shaped like a sword. The Macuahuitl is made of wood, and its sides are embedded with blades made from obsidian, a volcanic glass stone frequently used by the Aztecs and other pre Columbian cultures in the making of tools.
This weapon was commonly used by Aztec military forces and other cultures found in present day central Mexico. In fact, its use was so widespread that it was noted repeatedly in notes taken during the sixteenth century Spanish conquest, likely at the peak of the Macuahuitl’s popularity. Unfortunately, the last authentic Aztec Macuahuitl was destroyed in a fire in Madrid in 1884. Little is known about this weapon other than what can be inferred by drawings or records by Spanish conquistadors.
The Macuahuitl was often used in combat with a chimalli, or round shield, a tlauitolli, or bow, and the atlatl, or spear thrower. Though it is sometimes called a sword, it is not a true sword, and there is no European equivalent for this weapon.
This weapon could be made in both one handed and two handed forms. It measured three to four feet long, and was only about three inches wide. A groove along each edge allowed the insertion of sharp edged pieces of obsidian or, less frequently, flint. These pieces would then be held securely in the groove using some sort of natural adhesive.
Though the Machuahuitl’s wooden “blade” itself was not sharp enough to inflict any damage, the rows of obsidian blades could cause serious lacerations. According to some accounts, it was sharp enough to decapitate a man, and possibly even a horse. The Macuahuitl was used not only in battle, but also in sacrifices to the gods.
In some cases, the rows of obsidian were spaced apart, with gaps in between, similar to sawteeth. In other versions, the rows of obsidian were placed so closely together that the sharp obsidian formed a single edge, much like a sword. Carvings found at the Mexican prehistorical site Chichen Itza depict clubs having separate blades sticking out from each side. In another carving, a warrior holds a club with many blades on one side and one sharp point on the other side. Both versions are thought to be early versions of the macuahuitl.
Though the Macuahuitl is best known as an Aztec weapon, the idea of using obsidian to form a sword like blade was not new even then. Obsidian used for small knives, scrapers, drills, razors, and arrow points has been found in numerous Mesoamerican cultures predating the Aztecs. Several obsidian mines were located near Aztec civilizations, providing the raw materials for these tools and weapons.
The obsidian used for the blades of these unique weapons can achieve a very sharp edge. In fact, modern knives are only now beginning to rival the possible sharpness of obsidian. Plus, it only required stone age technology for shaping, unlike modern metals, and required absolutely no fire forging. The drawback, however, is that obsidian is very brittle. As a result, it cannot maintain its sharpness for very long. It will easily chip or break, and it would have been surprisingly easy to break the entire blade in half by accident.
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