All about the ancient tribes
Tools the ancient Maya used for hunting included blowguns , traps (including snares,) and spears . In the Late Postclassic, the Maya began to make use of bows and arrows . For hunting deer, the ancient Maya would also drive them along, using hunting dogs.
They hunted turkeys, rabbits, armadillos, monkeys,tapirs,and macaws. The Mayan also foung lots of fruits and vegetables to eat like avocados, papaya,guava,breadnuts,and chilies.
The tools that they had to work with were very simple. They used tools such as fire and basalt axes on wood. Fire was very unpredictable so they switched to basalt axes for a little more precision. On stone they used tools made of flint, obsidian, granite, limestone, and quartzite(Stierlin 132).
Animals which were hunted include deer, peccary, turkeys, quails, ducks, curassow, guan, spider monkeys, howler monkeys, the tapir, and armadillo. Dogs were also fattened up on maize and eaten.
The fighting was very fierce , but Aztecs tried to wound or captured their enemies rather than kill them . When the Aztec’s general decided that the battle was won. Messengers were sent to call on their opponents to surrender. Once the enemy surrendered, a peace treaty was drawn up which listed the amount of tribute.
Projectile Weapons of Aztec Warriors Atlatl. The atlatl was a spear thrower, which produced greater force from a greater distance. War Bow and Arrows . The tlahhuitolli was a five foot long war bow strung with animal sinew. Slings. Aztec warriors and hunters carried slings made of maguey cactus fiber. Blowguns. Clubs.
Dating to 7000 years ago, these cobs are the earliest evidence of wild corn in the New World. Although their principal crop was corn, farmers also cultivated beans, squash, and fruit trees. Black beans and red beans contributed protein to the Maya diet. Numerous varieties of squash and pumpkin were grown.
The Ancient Mayans developed the science of astronomy, calendar systems, and hieroglyphic writing. They were also known for creating elaborate ceremonial architecture, such as pyramids, temples, palaces, and observatories. These structures were all built without metal tools.
The Mayans and the Aztecs believed (and perhaps some people still do) that chocolate was a gift from the gods. The Aztecs in particular revered the drink – they gave it to victorious warriors after battle, would use it during religious rituals, and even used cacao beans as currency.
For the Maya , who did not have metal tools, obsidian (or volcanic glass ) was highly valued because of its sharp edges for use as cutting instruments. The shift in trade might have involved more than obsidian.
Tikal
Central to Mayan technology was the profound use of a special stone, known as Obsidian . In ancient Mexican culture this stone was called Itzli, literally the god of stone, as it was used to make weapons for war as well as cutting tools for everyday use .
Farming was really important to the Mayas. Most people grew their own crops in small fields. Despite their size, these fields were used to grow many kinds of crops at the same time, such as maize, beans, squash and chilli. If farmers grew more than they could eat, they traded the leftovers in markets.
Yucatec Maya
Scholars have suggested a number of potential reasons for the downfall of Maya civilization in the southern lowlands, including overpopulation, environmental degradation, warfare, shifting trade routes and extended drought. It’s likely that a complex combination of factors was behind the collapse.