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In this abundantly illustrated third and final volume on the artifacts found by Edward H. Thompson in the Well of Sacrifice, specialists analyze the great variety of objects and debate whether they represent evidence of dateable prehistorical ritual. The collection includes the rare remains of hundreds of textiles, wooden objects, and copal incense offerings that were preserved in the waters of this limestone sinkhole, as well as the lithics, ceramics and bone and shell artifacts commonly found in Maya burials and caches and about 250 mammalian remains. These objects are remarkable for having been cut, torn, broken, and burned before they were thrown into the green waters of the sacred well at Chichen Itza.

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Gutiérrez Solana presents a systematic study of ceremonial stone objects associated with the Mexica (Aztec), examining their forms, iconography, religious functions, and relationship to ritual practices. The objects include stone representations and implements connected with sacrifice, autosacrifice, offerings, warfare, and the cult of particular deities. Individual pieces are analyzed through comparison with archaeological evidence and representations and descriptions in pre-Hispanic and early colonial sources. Among the objects discussed are zacatapayolli associated with bloodletting, as well as other carved stone implements and ritual forms. The study places these objects within Mexica religious symbolism rather than treating them simply as sculpture, providing an extensive illustrated corpus for understanding the material equipment of Aztec ceremonial life. Later scholarship continues to cite the book for individual ritual objects and their interpretation.

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Tibón examines jade and other greenstones in ancient Mexico primarily through their religious, symbolic, linguistic, and cultural significance rather than as a mineralogical study. Central to the book is the Nahuatl concept of chalchihuitl, encompassing precious green stones whose value extended far beyond ornament. Drawing on early colonial chronicles, indigenous traditions, mythology, place names, and archaeological material, Tibón explores associations of greenstone with water, vegetation, fertility, life, wealth, divinity, and supernatural power. He discusses its use in ritual objects, offerings and personal ornaments, as well as traditions concerning the discovery and recognition of chalchihuites. The work is especially useful for understanding the cultural concept of “jade” in Mesoamerica, where indigenous terminology did not necessarily correspond to modern mineralogical definitions. Later Mesoamerican scholarship continues to cite the book in discussions of the symbolism and cultural valuation of jade and greenstone.

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jade, nephrite, India, Mughal jade, gems, Indian lapidary

gems, jade, jadeite, fei cui, Mesoamerica, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Mayans, Olmecs, Aztecs, archaeology, history, archaeogemology, Pre-Columbian jade; Costa Rica; Maya; exchange; iconography, lapidary

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gems, jade, jadeite, fei cui, Burma, nephrite, China

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