Jade's Ancient Journey: Uncovering Belize's Hidden Treasures

Yes, there is jade in Belize. The Central American country is home to the Altun Ha Maya Ruins, an archaeological site where a large jade carving of the Maya sun god, Kinich Ahau, was discovered in 1968. The 6-inch carving, weighing almost 10 pounds, is the largest carved jade object to be found in any Maya community in the region.

Belize has also yielded the second-largest Maya jade, a pendant worn by an ancient Maya king during religious ceremonies. The pendant features an inscription of 30 hieroglyphs about its first owner.

The Jade Head of the Maya Sun God, Kinich Ahau, is housed in the Central Bank of Belize

Belize is home to a famous jade head—a large jade carving of the Maya sun god, Kinich Ahau. Weighing 9.75 pounds and standing almost 6 inches high, it is the single largest carved jade object discovered in any Maya community in the region. The jade head was discovered in 1968 at the Belize District's Maya site of Altun Ha, which was a major ceremonial centre and a central trading link between the Caribbean coast and Maya centres in the interior during the Maya Classic Period.

The jade head is housed in a fortified vault under 24-hour guard at the Central Bank of Belize. A replica of the "Jade Head" is on display at the bank, and its likeness is watermarked on all Belizean currency. The original jade head is also sometimes loaned for specific archaeological exhibitions abroad.

The jade head was discovered within a large tomb located below the stair block on the Temple of the Masonry Altars (Structure B4). The tomb contained the remains of an elderly adult male, likely an important ruler of the site, along with forty other objects. Analysis of cultural remains within the tomb suggests that the burial and accompanying grave goods were deposited sometime between 600 and 650 A.D.

The jade head is a remarkable work of art and is considered the crown jewel of Belize. It is the only one of its kind in Mesoamerica and may have taken many months, if not years, to produce using nothing more than stone tools. The jade used for the carving was imported from the Motagua River Valley region of Guatemala, the only known source of jadeitite in Mesoamerica. The green colour of the jade reflected that of water and the corn plant, the two most precious life-sustaining substances to the ancient Maya of northern Belize.

The Jade Head is the largest carved jade object found in any Maya community in the region

Belize is home to the largest carved jade object ever found in any Maya community in the region. Known as the Jade Head, it was discovered in 1968 by Dr. David Pendergast and two Belizeans working for the Royal Ontario Museum of Canada. The Jade Head was found in a large tomb under a staircase inside the Temple of the Masonry Altars (Structure B4) at the Altun Ha Maya site in Belize.

The Jade Head weighs 9.75 pounds (4.42 or 4.5 kg) and stands almost 6 inches (15 cm) tall. It is finely carved from a single large solid piece of jade imported from the Motagua River Valley region of Guatemala, the only known source of jadeitite in Mesoamerica. The colour of the jade reflects that of water and the corn plant, which were considered life-sustaining substances by the ancient Maya of northern Belize.

The Jade Head is believed to represent the Maya sun god Kinich Ahau, featuring crossed eyes, fang-like elements on either side of the mouth, and the ahau glyph on the forehead. It is the only one of its kind in all of Mesoamerica and is considered a masterpiece and a national treasure in Belize. A replica of the Jade Head is on display at the Central Bank of Belize, and its likeness is watermarked on all Belizean currency.

The discovery of the Jade Head at Altun Ha is significant as the site was once a major ceremonial centre and a central trading link between the Caribbean coast and Maya centres in the interior during the Maya Classic Period. Altun Ha was an ancient Maya community of great complexity and wealth, with evidence of settlement dating back to 200 B.C. The presence of the Jade Head and other jade artefacts at the site suggests that Altun Ha may have been a manufacturing centre for carved jade, contributing to its wealth and prominence in the Pre-Classic Era.

The Maya considered jade the most precious of stones

Jade is a rare metamorphic rock formed by tectonic plates colliding against each other. The Maya considered jade the most precious of stones, surpassing even gold in value. Jade was incredibly important to the Mayans, taking on great spiritual and religious significance. The stone's green colour lent itself to associations with water and vegetation, and it was symbolically associated with life and death in the eyes of the Mayans.

The Maya placed jade beads in the mouths of the dead. Mayan royalty would have a precious stone placed in their mouth on their deathbed, which would be removed and lightly rubbed on their face when they died. It was thought that the stone absorbed the soul and spirit. Members of the Mayan elite would also wear jade pendants around their necks as a form of connecting with the sun god Kinich Ahau, who was often depicted with a mirror on his forehead. By wearing polished jade stones, the Mayans hoped to mimic the god, increasing the value of the stone.

Jade was also a symbol of status and wealth for the Maya. Kings, for example, were buried in jade masks and chest plates, which acted as a ticket to the underworld. The traditional, everyday Mayan person, on the other hand, was buried underneath the floors of their homes with their mouth stuffed with food, along with a single jade bead.

Jade was also used as a powerful political tool by the rulers of Mayan society. The rulers worked hard to appear godlike, and jade, along with the temples, the ceremonies, and other status symbols, were a part of maintaining that persona.

The Maya also used jade for writing. They would inscribe important scripts and histories on jade jewellery and plates. In 2015, a large jade pendant was discovered in Belize with thirty Maya hieroglyphs about King Janaab' Ohl K'inich, a ruler over the powerful Maya city in Caracol (in modern-day Belize).

The only known source of jade in Mesoamerica is in the Motagua River Valley region of Guatemala

Jade is a valued regional trade good in Mesoamerica, with a variety of uses, from jewellery to religious artefacts. The only known source of jade in the region is in the Motagua River Valley region of Guatemala.

The Motagua River Valley region of Guatemala is the only known source of jadeite in Mesoamerica. The Motagua River runs through the valley in the western highlands of Guatemala, near the border with Honduras. The valley yields both jadeite and nephrite, though Mesoamerican artisans showed a preference for the former. Jadeite is a pyroxene mineral rich in sodium and aluminium, while nephrite is an amphibole mineral composed of calcium and magnesium.

Jade was highly prized by Mesoamerican cultures such as the Olmec, the Maya, and the Aztecs. Its rarity and value made it a symbol of prestige and power. The stone's green colour, which could range from pale to dark green, was associated with life, water, and vegetation, especially maize shoots. Mesoamericans also attributed healing powers to jade.

The Maya, in particular, held jade in high regard, using it to create artworks and ceremonial objects. They sourced jade from Guatemala, which they fashioned into jewellery, masks, figurines, and ceremonial axeheads. Jade was also used in religious rituals, with small pieces of jade placed in the mouths of the dead.

The discovery of a large jade carving of the Maya sun god, Kinich Ahau, at the Altun Ha site in Belize further highlights the importance of jade in Mesoamerican culture. Weighing almost 10 pounds, this carving is the largest jade object found in any Maya community. The fact that it was crafted using nothing more than stone tools underscores the value and significance of jade in Mesoamerica.

Archaeologists have discovered the second-largest Maya jade in Belize, a pendant with a historical inscription

Jade is a precious stone that was highly valued by the ancient Maya of Belize. In fact, it was considered the most precious of stones and was imported from the Motagua River Valley region of Guatemala. The Maya people of Belize held the colour green in high regard as it was the colour of water and the corn plant, two of the most precious and life-sustaining substances.

In 1968, archaeologists discovered a large jade carving of the Maya sun god "Kinich Ahau" at the Altun Ha site in Belize. Weighing almost 10 pounds and standing at 6 inches tall, it is the largest carved jade object ever found in the Maya region. The jade head is a national treasure and is displayed on all Belizean currency.

In 2015, archaeologists made another significant discovery in Belize, this time at the Nim Li Punit site in southern Belize. Led by UC San Diego archaeologist Geoffrey Braswell, the team uncovered a large piece of carved jade that was once worn by an ancient Maya king during religious ceremonies. This pendant is the second-largest Maya jade found in Belize and features a unique historical inscription.

Measuring 7.4 inches wide, 4.1 inches high, and just 0.3 inches thick, the pendant is inscribed with 30 hieroglyphs about its first owner, the king Janaab' Ohl K'inich. The inscription describes the king's parentage, with his mother possibly hailing from Cahal Pech in western Belize and his father possibly originating from Guatemala. It also mentions the king's accession rites in AD 647 and hints at a connection to the powerful Maya city of Caracol.

The discovery of this pendant has provided valuable insights into the history and connections of the Nim Li Punit site, which was likely inhabited between AD 150 and 850. The pendant's presence at the site suggests the arrival of royalty and the founding of a new dynasty, indicating previously unknown royal and political connections to the north and west.

Frequently asked questions