In the context of Pre-Columbian art and archaeology, jade is a generic term that
refers to any variety of hard, dense stones that were worked with great skill by
native artists. Although jade is generally thought to be green, it can actually be a
range of colors. Jade carving flourished in ancient Costa Rica for over a thousand
years, roughly from 500 B.C. to 900 A.D., although the period of greatest artistic
accomplishment lasted from 300 to 700 A.D. It is believed that jade working
began during an extended period of agricultural abundance that allowed the
ancient society to dedicate part of its energies toward the cultivation of artistic
pursuits.
Jade was considered to be a sacred material by the ancient populations of Costa
Rica, held in even higher esteem than gold. Generally, it was thought to
symbolize that vital life force that sustains us all. The color green is naturally
associated with verdant plant life. Specifically, jade was thought to symbolize the
sprouting maize plant, that staple of the Pre-Columbian diet. It has also been
suggested that jade represents water. Either way, we can be certain that jade
represented the very essence of life itself.
To date, no native sources of jade have been discovered in Costa Rica,
suggesting an extended trade network existed that imported this precious
resource from Mesoamerica into Costa Rica where it was carved by local artists.
Such trade also would have brought great wealth and likely reinforced the social
stratification of the peoples. Jade may have served as a status marker to
distinguish the elite from the masses and solidify their hold on power. We can
picture an ancient ruler or shaman presiding over a sacred ceremonial adorned
in brilliant green jade pendants and jewelry. The ancient Costa Ricans believe
that the system of social hierarchy also extended into the afterlife. Therefore,
jade objects were buried with the elite so that their power could be maintained
throughout eternity.
A figure wearing a double-headed avian or
serpentine headdress emerges at the top of
this pendant. Below, where his waist and legs
would be, is a serpent whose body is
intertwined. Most interestingly, the serpent
has two heads, one at each end, and the
heads line up together at the bottom of this
piece. Such a pendant would have likely been
worn by a shaman, chieftain, or some other
such high ranking member of ancient Costa
Rican society.
