Mace Item Number: Sf506 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

A metal mace (head only) with five pyramidal spikes radiating from a short central cylinder.

Narrative

Pre-Conquest, before 1532 C.E. Possibly Vicus Style, 200 B.C.E.-300 C.E. Mace heads were mounted on wooden handles and used as weapons. Maces with star-shaped heads are frequently depicted on Moche ceramics. Archaeological examples also come from Vicus, a contemporary site in the far north area (Lumbreras). The Spanish chroniclers also picture the Incas, a much later culture, bearing star maces.