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used. Thus, on level ground their range of about 60 meters (200 feet) was probably inadequate for the attacking troops, although it was more than sufficient for the elevated defenders. Without other assistance the attackers would have to climb a pyramid, with as few as a single avenue of attack. The defenders could thus concentrate their forces and use their atlatls effectively, while the attackers would have to limit their forces and ascend through a hail of darts without being able to answer the fire effectively. In that circumstance, the construction of a fire tower would greatly reduce the danger of attacking the pyramid by providing the attackers with an effective, and even superior, vantage point from which to fire on the defenders, suppressing return fire and providing cover for the attackers. This describes the events depicted, but they remain highly unusual, probably as a result of the evolution of tactics. By the late postclassic, assaults integrated archers and slingers in the attacks. The vastly superior range of these weapons completely eliminated the need for fire towers in attacking higher targets, as they were now within range from the ground. There is evidence of other Mayan scaffolding, but it is of uncertain size and appears to be in a sacrificial context (Coe 1975:2627). |
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102. Aguilar 1963:152; Cortés 1971:130 [letter 2]. |
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103. Sahagún 1954:53. |
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1. Sahagún 1961:38; translation by J. Richard Andrews. |
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2. Garibay 1973:73; Hernández 1946, 1:64 [bk. 1, chap. 20]; Sahagún 1954:53. |
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3. Sahagún 1954:54. |
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4. Casas 1967, 2:400 [bk. 3, chap. 215]; Hernández 1946, 1:66 [bk. 1, chap. 20]. |
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5. Durán 1967, 2:319 [chap. 41]. |
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6. Garibay 1973:73. |
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7. Sahagún 1954:53. |
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8. Sahagún 1954:54, 74. |
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9. Sahagún 1952:53. |
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10. Sahagún 1951:166. |
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11. Hernández 1946:66 [bk. 1, chap. 20]. |
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12. Díaz del Castillo 190816, 1:112 [bk. 2, chap. 31], 1:119 [bk. 2, chap. 34]. |
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13. Durán 1967, 1:114 [chap. 11]. |
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14. Cortés 1971:245 [letter 3]. |
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15. Ixtlilxóchitl 197577, 2:36 [chap. 14]. |
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16. Cortés 1971:15354 [letter 2]. |
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17. Aguilar 1963:155. |
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18. Hernández 1946:6566 [bk. 1, chap. 20]. |
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19. Hernández 1946:65 [bk. 1, chap. 20]. |
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20. Ixtlilxóchitl 197577, 2:41 [chap. 16], 2:166 [chap. 65]. |
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21. Torquemada 197583, 1:155 [bk. 2, chap. 19]. When the Azcapotzalcas were finally overthrown, all the rebel cities joined in sacking it (Tor- |
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