Comments on: The million dollar question: what is a machacador?

By: Sarah

Sarah — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 19:58:39 +0000

I was reading in “1491″ (p 349) about old texts done in textile and cords, khipu strands or bundles. I was imagining hanging a cord, tie knots and fix them or display them, it is often handy to have a weight at the end of the cord. This could be a “writing tool” for cord tying khipu, the point has a purpose if the end of the cord (running through the channel, hole, coming out of the conical shaped side) ends in a loop. Thus at any time the weight can easily be removed from the cord, be worked, words added or corrected for example and rehung or stretched.

The same goes for it’s use as a building tool for establishing vertical lines. A loop at the end could be slung over the point for easy removal of the weight.

By: Frances L Stearns

Frances L Stearns — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 14:45:21 +0000

Seems there are many of these objects so ‘slingshot’ is plausible. Rabbit hunting?

By: Kyle

Kyle — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 03:40:57 +0000

Machacador means “crusher” in Spanish so it must be to a pedestal and mortar set,most likely for crushing beans and the hole was to filter the dirt from the beans, or it could have been used as a hammer like the museum believes.

By: Dutra de Lacerda

Dutra de Lacerda — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 18:30:01 +0000

It is habitat dependent. It could be several things.
What was the habitat ? when they were used…

By: Paul D. Burley

Paul D. Burley — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 00:55:43 +0000

The stone appears to be of the size and shape to be held comfortably in the hand, like a handle. Tie a stone to one end of twine, and then thread the other end of the twine through the hole. Place your hand (or thumb) onto the circular shape to hold the end of the twine. Now swing the stone in a circle over your head.The twine will extend out from the handle along the linear depression in the handle. When ready to fling the stone at your enemy, simply release the pressure of your hand (or thumb) on the end of the twine! The machacador is a handle for a slingshot!

By: Ray Vasquez

Ray Vasquez — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 21:44:44 +0000

It is a bean masher. It was used back in the earlier days.

By: Amy

Amy — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 05:52:35 +0000

I think it is a pipe, of sorts.

By: ken bohun

ken bohun — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 03:50:16 +0000

The second I saw it I thought “nice arrow straightener” very similar to what I used by chance on an experiment slash bad idea camping trip starting with nothing and off you go to survive on half learned skills. Any way, I was making an arrow and used a rock I found on the beach (west coast bc) with a hole in it to pry the arrow strait over a smoldering fire because it would burn my bare hands applying pressure to the hot wood. I agree with JET arrow smiths’ tool.

By: anthony herren

anthony herren — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 19:27:21 +0000

I agree with the guy who thinks its a shuttle. I once worked in a cotton-mill weave shop and our shuttles had the same general shape although they were hollow. Could have been used in looms weaving heavy textiles like rugs.

By: Richard Virchow

Richard Virchow — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 07:02:36 +0000

Looks like a loom shuttle.