Mace heads were a common form from at least the Early Intermediate Period (200 BCE–600 CE). The first examples appear in stone, associated with Chavín and Salinar cultures. The succeeding Moche and Nasca developed copper mace heads, which they depict in painted scenes of hand-to-hand combat on ceramic vessels. The pointed metal maces would remain popular throughout Andean cultural history.

Adapted from

Kimberly L. Jones, PhD, Inca: Conquests of the Andes / Los Incas y las conquistas de los Andes, Label text [1976.W.1793; 1976.W.1771; 1976.W.1772; 1976.W.1773; 1976.W.1774], 2015.