South American Bronze Age axes. Three axe types from the Bronze Age of Andean South America (100 to 1500 AD). At left are three Ecuadorian votive axes

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South American Bronze Age axes. Three axe types from the Bronze Age of Andean South America (100 to 1500 AD). At left are three Ecuadorian votive axes, used as currency. At centre is a heavy bronze axe, probably hand-held for stone masonry work. At right is an axe for use as a weapon or for cutting wood. The Bronze Age in South America continued up to the end of the pre-Columbian era. Iron was not smelted until the invasion of the Spanish Conquistadors, whose iron and steel weapons were superior to bronze weapons.

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Size: 4819px × 3626px
Photo credit: © PAUL D STEWART/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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