gems, jade, jadeite, fei cui, Guatemala, Mesoamerica, Maya, Mayan jade

A historical survey of the use and significance of jade in the civilizations of Mesoamerica. Gendron discusses jade as a highly valued material among pre-Columbian peoples and examines its cultural associations with purity and life. The article reviews the roles of jade objects within Mesoamerican societies and distinguishes useful terminology and categories employed for the various materials traditionally grouped as jade or greenstone. It provides a concise introduction to the archaeological and cultural importance of jade from the major civilizations of ancient Mesoamerica. A contemporary Journal of Gemmology abstract characterizes the paper specifically as a historical review of jade use in Central American civilizations.