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

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.