Editing Spear (section)

====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.