Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Colima, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. A collection of 4 obsidian stone cores, all displaying nice signs of use. Each core exhibits vertical grooves from the knapping process and an elongated and slender form with a flat base. The fluted sides taper from the base to the rounded tip. Each was at one time a cone shape but was then flaked in order to create razor sharp blades. The blades were created by applying pressure to the base of these cores to flake off a part of the face, which created the fluted surface seen here. Obsidian breaks in a very predictable and controlled way and the resulting fragments can be razor sharp. In fact, obsidian is one of the sharpest stones on the planet, and modern-day surgeons still use obsidian tools! Size of largest core: 7.5" L x 2" W (19 cm x 5.1 cm); smallest: 6" L x 1.25" W (15.2 cm x 3.2 cm)
Provenance: private Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA collection; ex-Dr. David Harner collection, Springdale, Arkansas, USA, acquired between the 1950s and 1960s
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#163366
Condition
Chips and abrasions with areas of larger losses and other imperfections as expected with age and use. Overall forms and knapped grooves are preserved. Light mineral deposits on each.