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

Gold, Jade, Forests: Costa Rica is a richly illustrated introduction to the archaeological and cultural heritage of Costa Rica before European contact. Focusing on the country’s remarkable traditions of jade carving and goldworking, the book explores how these precious materials served as symbols of power, status, religious belief, and social identity among ancient Costa Rican peoples. Through photographs of artefacts, archaeological sites, and natural landscapes, it traces the development of indigenous societies from the jade-working cultures of the first millennium AD to the later florescence of gold metallurgy, while also highlighting the tropical forests that shaped and sustained these civilizations. Published in conjunction with a major museum exhibition, the volume presents the artistic achievements and cultural history of pre-Columbian Costa Rica for a general audience.