5.5 Jade and other precious materials

Jade held immense spiritual and social significance in Mayan culture. Valued more than gold, it was believed to protect wearers and ensure a favorable afterlife. Only elites could own jade, with its quality and intricacy reflecting one's status.

The Mayans also prized other materials like obsidian, gold, quetzal feathers, and spondylus shells. These were used in art, tools, and trade, playing crucial roles in Mayan society. Trade networks for these materials influenced the rise and fall of city-states.

Jade in Mayan culture

• Jade played a central role in Mayan culture, holding deep spiritual significance and serving as a marker of social status
• The Mayans valued jade more highly than gold, considering it a sacred stone imbued with divine powers
• Jade was used to create a wide range of objects, from jewelry and ornaments to ceremonial masks and figurines

Spiritual significance of jade

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• The Mayans believed jade had the power to protect the wearer from harm and ensure a favorable afterlife
• Jade was associated with the breath soul, one of the multiple souls the Mayans believed humans possessed
  • The breath soul was thought to reside in the heart and was linked to the life force
• Jade was also connected to the Maize God, a central deity in Mayan religion (more on this in the "Symbolism in Mayan art" section)
• Mayan rulers and shamans used jade objects in religious ceremonies and rituals to communicate with the gods

Jade and social status

• Jade was a symbol of wealth, power, and prestige in Mayan society
• Only the elite, such as rulers, nobles, and high-ranking warriors, had access to jade objects
  • Commoners were not permitted to own or wear jade
• The quality, size, and intricacy of jade objects reflected the owner's social status
  • For example, rulers wore elaborate jade masks and pectorals, while lower-ranking elites might have simpler jade earspools or pendants
• The Mayans often buried their dead with jade objects, signifying the deceased's high status and ensuring a favorable afterlife

Sources of jade in Mesoamerica

• The Mayans obtained jade from several sources in Mesoamerica, primarily in present-day Guatemala and Honduras
• The most important jade source was the Motagua Valley in Guatemala, which produced high-quality jadeite
  • Jadeite is a harder, more valuable form of jade than nephrite, another type of jade found in Mesoamerica
• Other notable jade sources included the Copán Valley in Honduras and the Sierra de las Minas in Guatemala
• The Mayans also traded for jade with other Mesoamerican cultures, such as the Olmecs and Aztecs

Jade carving techniques

• Mayan jade carvers used a variety of tools and techniques to create intricate designs and shapes
• Jade is an exceptionally hard stone, ranking between 6.5 and 7 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness
  • This made jade difficult to carve and required specialized tools and skills
• Mayan jade carvers used abrasives such as sand, crushed quartz, and corundum to slowly grind and shape the jade
• They also used string saws, which were thin cords coated with abrasive materials, to cut jade into desired shapes
• Drills made from hollow bird bones or reeds, used with abrasive sand, allowed carvers to create holes and intricate details
• Polishing with leather, wood, or clay brought out the jade's lustrous finish

Other precious materials

• In addition to jade, the Mayans valued and used a variety of other precious materials in their art, tools, and trade
• These materials included obsidian, gold, silver, quetzal feathers, and spondylus shells, each serving different purposes and holding cultural significance

Obsidian tools and weapons

• Obsidian, a volcanic glass, was highly prized by the Mayans for its sharpness and versatility
• Mayan craftsmen used obsidian to create tools such as knives, arrowheads, and scrapers
  • Obsidian blades were sharper than steel and ideal for tasks like shaving, cutting, and bloodletting rituals
• Obsidian was also used to make weapons, such as daggers and spearheads, for warfare and hunting
• The Mayans obtained obsidian from several sources in Mesoamerica, including the El Chayal and Ixtepeque quarries in Guatemala

Gold and silver metalworking

• The Mayans began working with gold and silver relatively late in their history, around 800 CE
• Gold and silver were used to create jewelry, ornaments, and ceremonial objects for the elite
  • Examples include earspools, pendants, and pectorals
• Mayan metalworkers used techniques such as lost-wax casting, hammering, and gilding to shape and decorate gold and silver objects
• Gold and silver were often combined with other materials, such as jade and shell, to create intricate designs

Quetzal feathers for adornment

• Quetzal feathers, from the resplendent quetzal bird, were highly prized by the Mayans for their beauty and symbolism
• The brilliant green and blue feathers were used to create elaborate headdresses, fans, and other adornments for the elite
• Quetzal feathers were associated with royalty, divinity, and the sky god Quetzalcoatl
• The resplendent quetzal was considered sacred, and killing the bird was prohibited; feathers were collected from wild birds or captive-bred populations

Spondylus shells as currency

• Spondylus shells, also known as thorny oysters, were used as a form of currency and valuable trade item in Mayan society
• The shells, which range in color from orange to red, were considered sacred and associated with fertility and the underworld
• Spondylus shells were used to make jewelry, ornaments, and ceremonial objects
• The shells were also ground into a powder and used as a pigment for painting and dying textiles
• Spondylus shells were traded over long distances, with the Mayans obtaining them from coastal regions in present-day Ecuador and Peru

Jade and precious materials trade

• The trade of jade and other precious materials played a significant role in the development and dynamics of Mayan civilization
• The Mayans established extensive trade networks, both within their own cities and with other Mesoamerican cultures, to obtain and distribute these valuable resources

Long distance trade networks

• The Mayans developed a complex system of trade routes, both overland and by sea, to transport jade and other precious materials
• Overland trade routes connected Mayan cities and regions, allowing for the exchange of goods and ideas
  • The Mayans built raised roads, called sacbeob, to facilitate trade and communication between cities
• Sea trade routes, using large canoes, linked the Mayans with other Mesoamerican cultures along the Caribbean and Gulf coasts
• The Mayans traded with the Olmecs, Aztecs, and other cultures to obtain precious materials not found in their own region

Merchants and marketplaces

• Mayan merchants, known as ppolom, played a crucial role in the trade of jade and other precious materials
• Merchants traveled long distances to procure goods, often acting as diplomats and spies for their city-states
• Marketplaces, found in most Mayan cities, served as centers for the exchange of goods and information
  • The largest and most famous marketplace was located in the city of Chichen Itza
• Merchants used cacao beans, spondylus shells, and other valuable items as currency in marketplaces

Jade trade and the rise of city-states

• The trade of jade and other precious materials contributed to the rise and development of Mayan city-states
• City-states that controlled jade sources or important trade routes gained wealth, power, and influence
  • For example, the city of Kaminaljuyu, located near the Motagua Valley jade source, became a major center of jade production and trade
• The wealth generated from the jade trade allowed city-states to finance the construction of monumental architecture, support craft specialization, and maintain large populations
• Competition for control over jade sources and trade routes also led to conflicts and alliances between city-states

Control over precious material sources

• Mayan city-states sought to control sources of jade and other precious materials to maintain their wealth and power
• Rulers and elites often sent expeditions to secure access to jade quarries and other resource sites
• The control of precious material sources became a source of political and economic power for Mayan city-states
  • City-states would sometimes go to war to gain or protect access to these resources
• The Mayan city of Cancuen, located along the Pasion River trade route, became wealthy and powerful through its control of the jade trade
  • However, Cancuen's prosperity also made it a target for conquest by rival city-states

Symbolism in Mayan art

• Jade and other precious materials were used in Mayan art to convey important religious, political, and social messages
• The symbolism associated with these materials reflects the deep cultural significance they held in Mayan society

Jade masks and figurines

• Jade masks and figurines were among the most important and iconic forms of Mayan art
• Masks were often created in the likeness of gods, rulers, or ancestors and were used in religious ceremonies and funerary rites
  • For example, the famous jade mask of the ruler Pakal from Palenque depicts him as the Maize God
• Figurines, often depicting deities or important individuals, were used as offerings in temples and burials
• The green color of jade was associated with water, vegetation, and life, making it a fitting material for depicting gods and themes of renewal

Jade and the Maize God

• The Maize God, a central deity in Mayan religion, was often depicted in jade art
• The Maize God was associated with agriculture, fertility, and the cycle of life, death, and rebirth
• Jade, with its green color and associations with life and renewal, was an ideal material for representing the Maize God
• Mayan rulers often portrayed themselves as the Maize God in jade masks and other artworks to legitimize their rule and associate themselves with divine power

Jade and the underworld

• Jade was also associated with the Mayan underworld, known as Xibalba
• The Mayans believed that jade could protect the deceased in the afterlife and ensure their rebirth
• Jade objects, such as masks, figurines, and jewelry, were often placed in elite burials to accompany the deceased into the underworld
• The association between jade and the underworld is evident in the famous Jade Death Mask of Pakal, which depicts the ruler's journey into Xibalba

Precious materials in elite burials

• In addition to jade, other precious materials were used in elite Mayan burials to signify the deceased's status and ensure a favorable afterlife
• Gold, silver, and shell objects were often placed in burials alongside jade
  • For example, the tomb of the Red Queen of Palenque contained a jade mask, jade jewelry, and a spondylus shell
• Quetzal feathers and jaguar pelts, symbolizing royalty and power, were also used in elite burials
• The use of precious materials in burials reflects the Mayan belief in the afterlife and the importance of maintaining social status even in death