All about the ancient tribes
green
The ancient Maya considered jade to be divine and therefore far more important than gold. The stone had much religious meaning and was used to make both artistic and sacred objects. The nobility wore jade ear plugs, pendants, necklaces, masks and wristbands. Kings even inserted jade chips in their teeth.
The Mayas wore a great deal of jewelry – earrings , nose rings, lip rings, necklaces, pins and more. The poor wore jewelry made of bone and sticks and painted clay. The rich wore jewelry of gold , silver , copper , turtle shell, and gemstones. The nobles wore hats, the higher the better.
Jade was incredibly important to the Mayans , taking on a great spiritual and religious significance. The stone’s green colour lent it to associations with water and vegetation, and it was symbolically associated with life and death in the eyes of the Mayans .
Rich emerald- green jadeite, known as “ imperial jade ,” is also the most highly valued. However, durable jadeite can be found in many colors and is well-suited for both intricate carvings and cabochons.
Demand for jade is driven almost entirely by the Chinese market. At the top end, it can be worth more than gold . With figures like that it’s no wonder more Chinese are buying luxury products like jade , which has in recent years experienced double-digit growth, Wong said. At the top end, it can be worth more than gold .
As one of the most expensive gems in the world, it can sometimes be priced at millions of dollars. The second most expensive form of jade is that which exhibits a lavender hue. In general the more untainted and uninterrupted by impurities your jade is, the more valuable it will be.
The Maya . Although gold was panned in the Guatemala highlands, it was not produced in great quantity. For the most part, Mayans traded for their gold with other Mesoamerican peoples[5]. It is also considered the biggest collection of gold work discovered in the region.
Scholars have suggested a number of potential reasons for the downfall of Maya civilization in the southern lowlands, including overpopulation, environmental degradation, warfare, shifting trade routes and extended drought. It’s likely that a complex combination of factors was behind the collapse.
Yucatec Maya
Two thousand years ago, the ancient Maya developed one of the most advanced civilizations in the Americas. They developed a written language of hieroglyphs and invented the mathematical concept of zero. With their expertise in astronomy and mathematics, the Maya developed a complex and accurate calendar system.
Nephrite is more common between China, New Zealand, Russia, and the Swiss Alps. However, the more dark, vibrant, green Jadeite gemstones are found mainly in North America and specifically Western Canada. This being said, lighter shades of Jadeite are also found around China, Russia, and Guatemala.
limestone
In Central America, the Mesoamerican groups, namely the Olmecs, Mayans and Aztecs prized jadeite jade . They used it for medicinal purposes as well as for jewelry, ornaments, and religious artifacts. Jadeite also symbolizes prosperity, success, and good luck.