gems, jade, jadeite, fei cui, Mesoamerica, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Mayans, Olmecs, Aztecs, archaeology

Finely carved jades were doubtless regarded by the Maya as objects of great value. They could be passed on from generation to generation and could be traded in distant parts. In most cases one cannot rely on the circumstances of their discovery to evince their origin, and often the only clue is the style of the carving itself, at best an uncertain criterion, especially since conclusions must be based largely on analogy with arts of different technique. Fortunately, a few jades were inscribed with dates, and when these dates can be related to inscriptions on monuments they sometimes furnish more...