The Inca metallurgy Was used by this empire to make objects of utilitarian and ornamental value. Both tools and weapons can be found as vessels and accessories made of metals.
During the pre-Columbian era, the Incas developed metallurgy. Both the extraction and purification of the metals and the manufacture of parts from these were part of the metallurgical process.
In this area, the Incas advanced to other Aboriginal groups, since they were one of the first to use techniques such as the casting of metals to give them forms later.
It should be noted that not all metals were used for the same purpose. While bronze and copper were used to produce weapons, gold and silver Were used in ornaments.
Gold and silver were very precious metals for the Incas, since they were considered to represent two of their deities: the Sun and the Moon.
Also, the Incas developed alloys between metals, among which the bronze. They were also one of the first cultures to use bismuth mixed with bronze.
Characteristics and materials in Inca metallurgy
1-Objects made of metals were used in any area of the Inca's making. Both tools and ornamental and religious objects are presented.
2-The tools used to be made in bronze, copper and brass.
3-Ornamental and religious objects used to be made in gold and silver, by the fact that they reminisced the sunlight.
These two metals had great symbolic and religious value for the Incas: gold was considered as the sweat of the Sun, while silver was considered as the Tears of the Moon.
4-Gold and silver were employed by members of the nobility, while bronze and copper were employed by the rest of the people.
5-Alloys (mixtures of metals) like bronze were used. The metallurgical masters of the Inca Empire made great strides in creating alloys.
The typical Inca bronze alloy was composed of copper and brass, with 3% of this latter material. Other alloys were also developed.
Current studies of Inca objects that have survived the passage of time demonstrate that the Incas used bismuth to create bronze.
Bismuth has the property of making metals become brittle. However, the Incas knew how to work this metal without causing the bronze to break.
This alloy included 18% bismuth and 9% brass. The resulting mixture was whiter than ordinary brass and used on knife handles.
6-To extract the metals, several methods were carried out. For example, the gold was extracted by passing the gravel of the rivers by a sieve. Similarly, gold was extracted from veins in surface mines.
Silver was one of the most difficult elements to extract. However, it was one of the most used metals in the Inca Empire. On the other hand, the copper was obtained from the work in shallow mines.
7-The material extracted was taken to large clay furnaces, in which the metal melted to remove the impurities.
This work required the action of many men. Which took turns to blow the fire, so that it increased the temperature in the oven.
Works
The Incas used diverse metals to develop objects that were useful in their day to day and objects that served of ornament.
Tools and weapons
Both copper and bronze were used to make basic tools and weapons. Among the objects created for this purpose are rudimentary shovels used for digging, knives with curved leaves, axes, chisels and needles.
There are also domestic objects made of bronze and copper, such as teaspoons, bracelets and belts.
In the same way, the Incas created mirrors of polished bronze, which resemble the mirrors made in the Ancient Egypt .
The Incas did not work with the iron, much less with the steel (alloy of iron and carbon that the Incas did not develop).
For this reason both armor and weapons were made of copper, bronze, brass and wood. In this area, the Incas produced helmets, spears, axes of battles, among others.
Ornaments
The Incas used gold and silver as ornamental materials. This was done not because the aborigines considered that these metals had more economic value than copper or bronze, but because they reflected the light of the sun more than any other.
In this way, the use of these brilliant metals became another way of worshiping the god of the Sun, known as Inti, and the goddess of the Moon.
Gold and silver were intended to be used in decorations. For their part, the possession and use of materials made of gold or silver was reserved for Aborigines belonging to the high society (lords, priests and emperor).
Some examples of the objects made with these metals are gold or silver plates with decorative engravings, crowns, diadems, ceremonial knives and cups. At times, the garments of the priests and emperor had gold and silver.
Figures were also made that served to worship the gods. They emphasize the anthropomorphic sculptures that had like object the representation of the deities.
In the same way, they made figures of animals that were offerings for the gods. In general, llamas, alpacas, birds, reptiles and felines were represented.
The representation of the flame had great value, since it was considered that this animal had special connections with the sun, the rain and the fertility.
It should be noted that gold and silver were not the only elements used as ornament.
Both the palaces of the emperors and the Inca temples were decorated with objects made of various metals, elaborated by the metallurgical masters of the most advanced cities of the Empire.
References
- Metallurgy in pre-Columbian America. Retrieved on August 19, 2017, from wikipedia.org
- Inca metallurgy. Retrieved on August 19, 2017, from incas.homestead.com
- Metalwork in the Inca. Retrieved on August 19, 2017, from boundless.com
- Pre-Inca Metalurgy Discovered. Retrieved on August 19, 2017, from livescience.com
- The Incas' Ingenious Metalsmiths. Retrieved on August 19, 2017, from csmonitor.com
- Petersen, Georg (2010). Mining and Metalurgy in Ancient Inca Empire. Retrieved August 19, 2017, from books.google.com
- Inca Metallurgy. Retrieved on August 19, 2017, from ancienthistoricalresearchfoundation.com.