Obsidian has been used for centuries all over the world. Primitive people prized obsidian for making weapons such as arrow heads for hunting animals and sharp edged cutting tools for processing food and clothing. Archaeologists have found obsidian artifacts used for ceremonial purposes as well as tools and weapons in excavations. Modern day applications include surgical scalpel blades. Snowflake obsidian is prized by rock collectors and manufacturers of jewelry and other objects because of its striking beauty in appearance.
The list of items created from obsidian is limited only by human imagination, meaning, there are probably thousands of carvings and jewelry created our of this interesting and beautiful mineral.
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There are even stones carved by nature. Called Apache Tears, or black eyes, these are small nuggets of obsidian that have been rounded and smoothed naturally by wind and water.
The Apache indians believed that Apache Tears formed whenever Apache warriors leaped to their death off cliffs rather than be captured by an enemy.
Both Apache and Aztec placed much importance in obsidian, fashioning both tools and jewelry from the mineral.
In fact, the Aztec term iztli (surnamed teotetl) translates into "divine stone." See Spiritual meanings attributed to obsidian.
More than 2000 years ago, Caesar Augustus, emperor of the Roman Empire, commissioned carvings of obsidian elephants for the Temple of Concord.
