The Wheel

[BMAF]

DECEMBER 19, 2016

This thread appeared recently on our Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/bmaf.org/) 

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A BMAF member recently the following during a discussion about the use of the wheel in Mesoamerica during Book of Mormon times.  Archaeologists assure us that the wheel was not in use for domestic purposes until after the Spanish conquered Tenochitlan (1519 AD).  The Book of Mormon gives us no clues.

The comments below are from a scholar from El Salvador.  His questions are for fellow Mesoamericans:

 

What in Mesoamerica, we didn't know about the wheel?, And what that's why we were therefore "savages"?  Here are some of the many examples of figurines of ceramics with wheels found in Mexico and Central America, which demonstrate its use and knowledge. The wheel was not used to pull or push objects using the strength of animals and people. However, it served to develop sophisticated time markers (accounts calendáricas of the days) and markers from the ball game, among other uses daily and rituals.

Note that the figurine downstairs on the right, the last example with holes in the upper part, it's probably a cusuco (Armadillo) Felinizado, this is in addition to a possible toy, an ocarina or musical instrument of wind found in the proximidafdes of the archaeological site asanyamba , department of the union, East of El Salvador. In our land, the use of the wheel was for various activities such as the yagual (wheel) that is used used by the peasants and indigenous population for domestic use, especially to place baskets, pots and jugs to load equally on the head. In fact, the word of origin náwat "Yagual or yaguali" means wheel. Some of the figurines have been found as offerings in burial rituals such as reported by Stanley Boggs in the archaeological site of cihuatán (North of San Salvador), and in the archaeological site of the east of El Salvador in quelepa.

You can read the initial report of the use of the pre-Hispanic wheel in El Salvador: (http://www.fundar.org.sv/referencias/ruedas.pdf)

BMAF members gave their input as follows:

Doug Christensen Let's define their use: to my knowledge, most if not all of these were found in graves (effigies) placed there for some purpose; perhaps as transportation to the afterworld? Whatever their purpose, they were sacred and represented some form of transp...e

Mark F. Cheney My thinking goes like this: the simple engineering principle of the wheel was known to the ancient Americans, as demonstrated by these toys/effigies. Clearly ceramic wheels would not have been feasible to use on larger vehicles, but the earliest know w...

Core Cartwright Some of the wheels have carved spokes, which suggests to me they were made to look like a larger more functional conveyance with spoked wheels.

Doug Christensen Evidence of knowledge of and probable use of the wheel goes way back into Olmec times. Below is a photo of an Olmec wheel from the museum at Santiago Tuxtla.

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