Andean+Weaponry

= Andean Weapons & Armor  = >Here are some examples of Artifacts from different groups in the Andes. Through these pictures you should be able to get an idea of the variety and time put into making such well crafted armaments.

>This is a link to an interactive website that shows warfare technology of the Incas at the time of Western contact []

>Another major weapon for the Inca as well as a number of other groups in the Andes was the Sling or Slingshot. This weapon would hurl large rocks from a distance with great force and accuracy. Below is a link that shows a group of contemporary trying to hit a target with a variety of slings. (The actual slinging begins at 4:29min) [|Link to Sling Video]  >There is very little Moche iconography depicting warriors using the sling weapon. There are a few images, such as the one below that clearly show a warrior using one. The book "The art and archaeology of the Moche: an ancient Andean society of the Peruvian North coast" explains that the sling was the traditional weapon of pastoralists who used the weapon to protect their flocks as well as hunt. The book also mentions the spear thrower and how they are depicted hunting deer which the book explains is in some ways a metaphor for the Moche symbolizing the hunting of human enemies.{3} {3}

Here is a Link to a Wiki on Central American warfare where you can clearly see the differences in weaponry [|Link to Central American Weapons]

Maces and Clubs  ﻿> ﻿Another key point in the book "The art and archaeology of the Moche: an ancient Andean society of the Peruvian North coast" is that the Mace was a very important symbol in the Moche culture. It is seen on a great deal of their pottery as well as on their ceramics. The book compares the use of the Moche war club to that of the samurai sword in Japan. During the late 1500s the Gun was brought to Japan and shortly following its introduction guns flourished in Japan but because of a growing power of peasant armies elites saw that gun use diminished almost till gun use had completely vanished. So in other words the club is depicted in most Moche art work however less depicted weapons such as the sling and spear thrower probably still had an important part in battle however it was not seen as prestigious as the Club or Mace.{3}









= Axes  =



= = = Blowguns

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= Spears and Lances  =

>The book "The art and archaeology of the Moche: an ancient Andean society of the Peruvian North coast" explains that weapons most likely developed from tools out of necessity. For example a digging stick or hoe could easily be used as an ax like weapon in a time of conflict. Similarly a spear and or sling used for hunting could be used against enemies.{3} This is one of the Reasons it is sometimes hard to distinguish tools from weapons.

= Knives  =

=  Armor  Here is a Link to a PBS interactive website where you can see the detail in the Inca uniforms [|PBS Link]  =



All images from    Pottery and Iconography