| << Previous | Index | Next >> | ||
 |  |  |  |  |
Maya civilization is regarded as technologically most advanced of all pre-Columbian civilizations in Americas. It can be classified as stone age civilization which just began experimenting with metals by the time of Spanish conquest.
Lack of draft animals (like old world domesticated horse, cow, ox, donkey, etc) in ancient Americas may explain lack of use of wheel and therefore need in paved roads. Obsidian (volcanic glass) was a major material for various cutting tools and weapons (it is atomically sharp on freshly cleaved edge).
Rubber was difficult to produce yet the Maya used it as an important resource for many things. In its native Central America and South America, rubber has been collected for a long time. The Mesoamerican civilizations used rubber mostly from Castilla elastica.
The Ancient Mesoamericans had a ball game using rubber balls (see: Mesoamerican ballgame), and a few Pre-Columbian rubber balls have been found (always in sites that were flooded under fresh water), the earliest dating to about 1600 BC.
According to Bernal Díaz del Castillo, the Spanish Conquistadores were so astounded by the vigorous bouncing of the rubber balls of the Aztecs that they wondered if the balls were enchanted by evil spirits. The Maya also made a type of temporary rubber shoe by dipping their feet into a latex mixture.
Rubber was used in various other contexts, such as strips to hold stone and metal tools to wooden handles, and padding for the tool handles. While the ancient Mesoamericans did not have vulcanization, they developed organic methods of processing the rubber with similar results, mixing the raw latex with various saps and juices of other vines, particularly Ipomoea alba, a species of Morning glory.
Photo album created with Web Album Generator