gems, 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

Studied numerous smaller jade carvings in order to establish lapidary methods, as illustrated by the pen-and-ink drawings. Discusses the jades of the Maya culture and those of the Valley of Mexico and Oaxaca, together with excellent Olmec objects from the La Venta culture. Features excellent drawings; photographic plates consist mainly of jade carvings.