This site is designed to describe the basic techniques involved in obsidian blade production in Mesoamerica. It is not a comprehensive account in the context of time or space, nor is it all specific to one area. These methods are not the same for all of Mesoamerica, nor are they specific only to a single area. My hope is that this site will fill in the blanks for people wondering how obsidian blades got from a lump of stone to a precisely honed tool on a general scale. While some have focused their work on detailing the specifics of obsidian production methods in a given area, I would prefer to give an overview of the basic methods of obsidian blade production around the time of the Aztecs.
The first idea one must consider is what it would be like to be a traveling Aztec in need of a homestead. In order to eat, build, and defend themselves, among other things, the Aztecs needed a reliable blade. While the Aztecs certainly did not invent the obsidian blade, obsidian workshops have been found all over Mesoamerica. Here I intend to describe the steps of making a prismatic blade using pressure and percussion techniques as well as give an overview of several such techniques.
Please feel free to contact me at PLU through my email.