gems, jade, pyroxene jade, fei cui, Guatemala, Mesoamerica, Nicaragua, Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica, archaeogemology, Cuba, Dominican Republic

In this study, we focus on the “axe-god” jade pendants, which constitute the majority of jade artefacts in Costa Rica. It is understood that this designation does not refer to their function as actual axes, but rather to their axe-like shape. However, the author suggests that some of them may have been used as tools either before or after being reworked into pendants. The stylistic classification presented in this study aims to clarify the functional aspects of the pendants by focusing on their size and shape, and then combining these factors with their motifs. To support the hypothesis that the pendants may have had practical uses, detailed analyses using a digital microscope were conducted in order to identify possible use-wear traces.