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  3. Archaeology

navaja con plataforma

English translation: blades, with mounting

20:13 Oct 30, 2008
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Archaeology
Spanish term or phrase: navaja con plataforma
Talking about the obsidian trade in pre-Hispanic Mexico.

Los contactos entre Chichén Itzá y el centro de México son evidentes por la presencia de obsidiana originaria de Zaragoza en Puebla, Zacualtipán, Paredón y Pachuca en Hidalgo. Arribó en núcleos preparados o bien como navajas con plataforma.
Patricia Rosas
United States
Local time: 21:46
English translation:blades, with mounting
Explanation:
I'm guessing on the basis of the example below, although they don't say it's a macana. My guess is that there should be a comma before "con" and that the obsidian was found, but not the wooden support (after all that time). Still they could be identified as those blades. HTH.
Selected response from:

Parrot
Spain
Local time: 06:46
Grading comment
Thanks, Parrot. I asked at the pub. house, and they said it is some sort of error! But at least you had a rationale way around it...
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4obsidian razors with platform/base
Adriana Penco
2blades, with mounting
Parrot


  

Answers


19 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
obsidian razors with platform/base


Explanation:
See here:

http://skywalker.cochise.edu/wellerr/students/Obsidian/Obsid...
The fractured surfaces of obsidian can be razor sharp. It is believed that in North America, the Native Americans utilized most of the obsidian sites and probably quickly discovered the versatility and value of Obsidian.

Or.

...Native Americans used wooden tools to break obsidian rocks to make cutting tools. Obsidian can be sharper than a razor blade made from metal. http://www.flickr.com/photos/simpson3/2863854540/

Or
"The Obsidian Razor of the Aztecs"
http://www.anthrosource.net/doi/abs/10.1525/aa.1900.2.3.02a0...


Adriana Penco
Local time: 01:46
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Michael Kincaid: I'm not sure about the 'plataforma,' but "obsidian blade" or "obsidian knife" would be preferable to "razor," which in English is almost exclusively used to refer to a shaving implement.
30 mins
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
blades, with mounting


Explanation:
I'm guessing on the basis of the example below, although they don't say it's a macana. My guess is that there should be a comma before "con" and that the obsidian was found, but not the wooden support (after all that time). Still they could be identified as those blades. HTH.


    Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macuahuitl
Parrot
Spain
Local time: 06:46
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 20
Grading comment
Thanks, Parrot. I asked at the pub. house, and they said it is some sort of error! But at least you had a rationale way around it...
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



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