Editing Spear (section)

===The Americas===
====West Mexico and South America (Pre-Colombia)====
As advanced [[metallurgy]] was largely unknown in [[Pre-Columbian era|pre-Columbian America]] outside of [[Metallurgy in pre-Columbian America|Western Mexico and South America]], most weapons in [[Meso-America]] were made of wood or [[obsidian]]. This did not mean that they were less lethal, as obsidian may be sharpened to become many times sharper than steel.<ref>{{cite journal |last = Buck |first = BA|date=March 1982|title = Ancient technology in contemporary surgery|journal = The Western Journal of Medicine|volume = 136|issue = 3|pages = 265–269|issn= 0093-0415|oclc= 115633208|pmid= 7046256 |pmc = 1273673}}</ref> Meso-American spears varied greatly in shape and size. While the Aztecs preferred the sword-like [[macuahuitl]] clubs for fighting,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.precolumbianweapons.com/warfare.htm |title=Precolumbian Mesoamerican Warfare |website=www.precolumbianweapons.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080204060508/http://www.precolumbianweapons.com/warfare.htm |archive-date=4 February 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> the advantage of a far-reaching thrusting weapon was recognised, and a large portion of the army would carry the [[tepoztopilli]] into battle.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.precolumbianweapons.com/spears.htm|title=Precolumbian Spears|date=February 4, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080204065411/http://www.precolumbianweapons.com/spears.htm|archive-date=2008-02-04}}</ref> The tepoztopilli was a polearm, and to judge from depictions in various Aztec codices, it was roughly the height of a man, with a broad wooden head about twice the length of the users' palm or shorter, edged with razor-sharp obsidian blades which were deeply set in grooves carved into the head, and cemented in place with [[bitumen]] or plant resin as an adhesive. The tepoztopilli was able both to thrust and slash effectively.

Throwing spears also were used extensively in Meso-American warfare, usually with the help of an [[atlatl]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.precolumbianweapons.com/atlatl.htm |title=Pre-columbian Atl Atl Spear Throwers |website=www.precolumbianweapons.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080204065346/http://www.precolumbianweapons.com/atlatl.htm |archive-date=4 February 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Throwing spears were typically shorter and more stream-lined than the tepoztopilli, and some had obsidian edges for greater penetration.

====Native Americans====
{{multiple image
 | align = right
 | total_width = 400
 | image1 = A smoky day at the Sugar Bowl--Hupa.jpg
 | caption1 = A photograph of a [[Hupa]] native American man with his spear – ''by [[Edward Sheriff Curtis]], 1923''
 | image2 = Spear Case, late 19th century, 26.792.jpg
 | caption2 = ''Spear Case'', Crow (Native American), late 19th century, [[Brooklyn Museum]]
}}
Typically, most spears made by Native Americans were created from materials surrounding their communities. Usually, the shaft of the spear was made with a wooden stick while the head of the spear was fashioned from arrowheads, pieces of metal such as copper, or a bone that had been sharpened. Spears were a preferred weapon by many since it was inexpensive to create, could more easily be taught to others, and could be made quickly and in large quantities.

Native Americans used the [[buffalo pound]] method to kill buffalo, which required a hunter to dress as a buffalo and lure one into a ravine where other hunters were hiding. Once the buffalo appeared, the other hunters would kill him with spears. A variation of this technique, called the [[buffalo jump]], was when a runner would lead the animals towards a cliff. As the buffalo got close to the cliff, other members of the tribe would jump out from behind rocks or trees and scare the buffalo over the cliff. Other hunters would be waiting at the bottom of the cliff to spear the animal to death.<ref>{{cite web|title=Native American Spears|url=http://www.indians.org/articles/native-american-spears.html|website=Indians.org|access-date=22 July 2014}}</ref>