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THE AZTEC ATLATL IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 August 2015

John C. Whittaker
John C. Whittaker*
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa 50112
*
E-mail correspondence to: whittake@grinnell.edu
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Abstract

The British Museum's Aztec atlatl is one of their most famous Mesoamerican objects, yet it has not been studied as a weapon in light of current knowledge of spear-throwers, and the details necessary to do so have not been published. Close examination and experimental replication shows that although it is ornately decorated, it is a serviceable spear-thrower. While evidence of actual use of this specimen is ambiguous, we can at least accept the form as an example of working weapons of Contact period Mesoamerica. The actual effects and circumstances of atlatl use against the Spanish and others are difficult to judge from surviving accounts. The iconography of the decoration, as in other instances, associated this atlatl with elite warfare and deities of war and sacrifice.

Type
Research Article
Information
Ancient Mesoamerica , Volume 26 , Issue 1 , Spring 2015 , pp. 69 - 79
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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